"We are being controlled. I don’t like making political statements. We are here to play football, and if we can’t even do that because we are making a statement and just saying normal things, like ‘no to discrimination’ or ‘no to racism’, and you cannot say that, then hey, then what?”
Yes I think you are onto something here. I think their concerns are primarily that their ability to speak and be heard is being compromised, which seems slightly different than explicit concern for women, LGBT persons etc that are clearly oppressed, especially in Qatar.
I’d like to see more from these wealthy jocks than complaints about being controlled. They have power that many don’t have and if they have convictions about this that go beyond what affects them and their brand then they may be able to do some good.
Yes, our comments have crossed. See mine above.