A Political Football

While idly flipping through the many TV channels to find the program most suited to accompany my breakfast, I often find myself looking at Sky News UK. But, no matter when I open this “news” channel, I am invariably treated to a football match. Sometimes the report is from Wimbledon, sometimes from a place called Lord’s, but all show people playing with a ball – a football match. With Sterling heading for the wastebasket and Britain’s political scene in turmoil, football should not be the most important topic of the day.

(Bill Shankly, a Scottish football player and manager, best known for his time as manager of Liverpool would probably not agree with me. “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.”)

I am bewildered by the idea that anyone would want to watch a football match. I fully empathize with those actually playing a game but why would you want to watch somebody else enjoying themselves. Would you rather watch somebody cooking or go to a restaurant and enjoy a good meal? Would you rather watch a porno film or …… I’m sure you get my meaning.

But, each to their own, as they say. My problem with Sky is more serious. The weather forecast is ‘sponsored by Qatar Airlines’. Yes, Sky News is happy to take money from Qatar Airways, the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar.

If Sky News UK had taken the trouble to watch the documentary presented by Sky News Arabia, “Qatar… The Road to Manhattan” it might have been aware of Qatar’s role in supporting and financing terrorism. They might have learnt of the close relationship between Qatar and the mastermind, Khalid Shaikh Mohammad (KSM), of the attacks on the United States on 11th September, 2001. The documentary details Qatar’s long-term support for KSM, including protection and financial assistance, to develop his plans and achieve his terrorist goals.

News stories on Sky UK are not always favourable to Israel. Many, one-sided, reports can give the uninformed viewer the impression that Israel woke up one day and decided to bomb Gaza, just for the hell of it. Palestinian actions, such as multiple missile attacks, that preceded and precipitated the Israel action are ignored. Perhaps we should not expect objectivity from an organization that is happy to be “sponsored” by the state-owned airline of a state that “sponsors” terrorists.