Slavery and Soccer

 

"Football, it seemed to me, is not really played for the pleasure of kicking a ball about, but is a species of fighting."

—George Orwell

It is quite a radical statement by the well- known dystopian writer. To allude that the game of football unearths a particular strand of human nature that has a propensity to violence and fighting could be considered as sensational exaggeration by the lovers of the sport. Such a statement is not the debate here. However, what appears clear is that Orwell is certainly well ahead of his time. Without doubt, he is one of the few thinkers able to articulate the outlook of the trajectory of human existence as bleak and pessimistic. One wonders if Orwell foresaw the current reality of football as it stands today; excessive wages, lavish lifestyles of the players as well as hooliganism, racism and the propensity to create regional rivalry.

One dimension to the world's most favourite sport, which has crept onto the radar in recent times, is the powerful tendency towards exploitation. Qatar, the tiny Gulf state, has been under the international spotlight in relation to the process of 'winning' the bid to host the World Cup in 2022. The country with a small population of 2 million people wishes to portray itself as modern, futuristic and technologically savvy, capable of creating an extravaganza of one of the most important sporting events. No doubt, it can do this but at what cost? Initial concerns were raised about the dubious way in which Qatar was given such an opportunity, as many analysts speculated that bribery and corruption at the highest levels were pivotal in the decision. The French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, was exposed by the respected magazine, France Football, for 'acts of collusion and corruption' as he secretly held a lunch meeting with the crown prince of Qatar, Tamin ibn Hamam al-Thani, Michel Platini, president of the European Football Association and a representative of the investment fund which owned the then struggling French football club, Paris Saint-Germain. It is alleged that Mr Platini was pressured by the Qatari's to reconsider his initial thoughts of the World Cup to be held in the United States. The Qatari's would fulfill the 'deal' by buying Paris Saint Germaine and establishing a new TV sports channel in France to rival Canal Plus, a channel Sarkozy loathes. Therefore, economics and politics are the two pronged influences that have shaped the decision. Although, many of the reports are speculative in nature, if one takes into consideration the various media contracts, construction deals by international firms and other actors that have vested interests in Qatar, then it becomes pryingly obvious that huge sums of money is set to settle in the wallets of a small minority of elites around the globe, whether in government, construction, media or football.

However, what is likely to severely dent the credentials of the tournament is a recent investigation by The Guardian that shed light on the abuses many of the construction workers are victims of. The report documents evidence of migrants from South Asia working an excess of 12 hour shifts in the baking heat with little access to food and water. Some accounts speak of individuals begging for food from fellow colleagues, as wages are suspended. To add further discomfort to the story, construction employers would confiscate passports and ID cards. Even the accommodations they reside in are poorly ventilated, squalid and crammed with many others who find themselves in the same predicament.

The $100 billion infrastructure project is set to be the costliest world cup ever as a new rail system, an entire new suburb adjoining its capital Doha, luxury hotels with transport links and nine state-of-the-art, air-conditioned stadiums are forecasted to be constructed. Such lavish spending stands in stark contrast to the working conditions of its labour force, much of which is imported from very poor countries and which make up about 90% of its residents. Many of us would not be surprised by these findings as similar stories leak out of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It is true that one of the reasons for the economic prosperity of the region is due to worker exploitation. Often the stories are reminiscent of the squalid conditions slaves had to work in during the European conquests of the Americas or the harsh conditions during the industrial revolution of Britain. Historians would agree that slave labour is closely interwoven with economic prospects and unfortunately such a reality is all too common around the world.

As part of our analysis on such a grotesque phenomenon, one has to scrutinize the ethical premise that contributes to such a situation. The secular ethics espoused by the elites has always created gross resentment and insecurity, as the criteria of utilitarianism championed by Jeremy Bentham and further enforced by John Stuart Mill has been the dominant yardstick of deciding upon what actions to take. Bentham based his moral philosophy upon the principle, 'Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure'. Such a basis affirms two strands of thought; one concerns the pursuit of seeking happiness or pleasure for certain interest groups, even if a minority are subjugated and second, a question is inevitably asked, and 'Does the end justify the means?' If the net outcome of an action is considered 'good' or 'beneficial', can one overlook the means or methods that were employed in order to achieve the results?

Above is just a cursory glance of the underlying fundamental problem that we are witnessing in a world where divine ethics are sidelined and replaced by humanist considerations. As secularism coupled with Capitalist policies continually favour a very small minority, it is imperative for the Muslims to go back to the teachings of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم so we can understand the righteous way one undertakes social actions. The category of mu'amalaat can be understood at its basic level by making recourse to a handful of narrations:-

'Those are your brothers [workers under you] who are around you, Allah has placed them under you. So, if anyone of you has someone under him, he should feed him out of what he himself eats, clothe him like what he himself puts on, and let him not put so much burden on him that he is not able to bear, [and if that be the case], then lend your help to him' (Bukhari)

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said:

'I will be a foe to three persons on the Last Day: one of them being the one who, when he employs a person that has accomplished his duty, does not give him his due.' (Bukhari)

Furthermore, In the Sunan of Ibn Majah, the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, 'The wages of the labourers must be paid to him before the sweat dries upon his body.'

Therefore, one cannot help but feel contempt for the government of Qatar. Despite its vast oil wealth, she shows very little interest in playing a sincere role in the Muslim World; instead those in the royal family are rushing to fulfill their pockets and satisfy their egos by championing the opportunity in hosting the World Cup. They should at least ponder and reflect upon the saying of the Messenger and aim to implement the divine law upon the people, only then will it to be admiration of the world for its just system. Until then, I still wonder if George Orwell foresaw how soccer would be the pretext to exploitation and slavery.
Tuesday, 08 October 2013 07:07 Saqib Bukhari