"Don't you have a problem representing a country that has so much discrimination against blacks?".
This maddening and pathetic question was addressed by an Iranian journalist (no less!) to Tyler Adams, the African-American captain of the US national team, at a press conference ahead of the meeting between the national teams of the two countries.
But Adams was not drawn into the cheap and transparent provocation.
Instead, he demonstrated a maturity that we might not have expected from someone only 23 years old, but yes from someone who is, as mentioned, a captain and who most likely arrived briefed at the loaded press conference.
"There is discrimination everywhere. What I learned, especially from living in other countries and absorbing different cultures, is that in the US we are constantly trying to move forward," he answered. Then he went on to defeat the team of the oppressive dictatorship, the terrorist, murderous and dangerous delegation that is the country of the Ayatollahs.
One can only imagine what this situation would look like if it were the other way around;
The American journalist received some international criticism, especially from the West.
How stuttering and scared the Iranian footballer must have been.
But it didn't happen.
And if there is an American journalist who deserves to be mentioned when talking about the disastrous World Cup that is Qatar 2022, it is of course Grant Wahle, who was not only the most senior soccer journalist in the USA, apparently, but also a voice of true value courage and integrity. Not on behalf of any administration, not writing "on behalf of "No one and not a trill for the sake of provocation. When he came to the game in Qatar, wearing a rainbow shirt to express support for the LGBT community (which is oppressed in Qatar and Iran, and in a host of other countries that don't deserve to host such a tournament), he didn't defend the wicked and we didn't take care of the weak, just the exact opposite .
Exactly what should have been expected from any journalist who covered, and especially from those who traveled to cover, this tournament of nightmares.
Sports journalists, and other journalists.
journalistic duty
But so few did.
So few remembered what their role was.
So few fulfilled their duty and did not excel in their role.
And somehow, by chance, one who did, met his mysterious death in Qatar.
Coincidence.
Remember that when in four years the tournament returns to the free side of the family of nations.
The side where it is allowed to express an opinion in the city square.
Remember that when precisely from there - from a mixed tournament that will take place in Mexico, Canada and the USA - we will probably receive quite a few very critical columns, sharp arrows, against discrimination against blacks, of course. Maybe also against Islamophobia. And remember that criticism is not only a sign of what is not working, but why which can still work better.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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