“Russia-Qatar. Only goal: money!” headlinesLe Soir, somewhat bitter after Russia and Qatar won the bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. So much for the Belgian-Dutch, English, and Spanish-Portuguese bids. This decision “falls right in with the trend towards moneymania and excess”, rages the Brussels daily. “The football racket was born about 20 years ago, driven by personalities like Berlusconi and Bernard Tapie [ex-president of Olympique de Marseille], and has flourished ever since – especially in England thanks to Russian magnates and Persian Gulf princes (how symbolic!).”
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