PSG Triumphs in Champions League Finale, Victory Tainted by Qatar's Investment Strategy
Dirty and Genius Victory in the Champions League Series, Earning the Title of All-Time Greatest Win
In a stunning display of football, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Inter Milan with a resounding 5-0 victory in the Champions League final. This remarkable performance marks PSG's first-ever Champions League title and the highest score in the final's history.
Luis Enrique's tactically astute team, which has been the standout force in European football throughout the season, demonstrated exceptional teamwork and a gripping playing style that captivated viewers worldwide. The French champions set a record with their decisive victory in Munich.
While PSG's triumph is noteworthy, questions surrounding the team's ownership cast a shadow over their success. The Qatari Emirate's takeover of PSG in 2011 has been the driving force behind the team's ascent, with significant investments totaling over a billion euros. Critics argue that this victory is tainted by Qatar's involvement in widespread human rights violations and crimes.
Migrant workers, who represent over 91% of Qatar's population, continue to suffer from exploitation, wage theft, arbitrary dismissal, discrimination, and inadequate living and healthcare conditions. Women, particularly those working as domestic workers, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are disproportionately affected by these issues. Female citizens face restrictions in their mobility and autonomy due to the country's male guardianship policies.
The investment strategy has been successful for Qatar in bolstering its soft power and geopolitical influence both domestically and internationally. Since the takeover, PSG has claimed eleven consecutive championships, and the club's value has skyrocketed from 50 million euros to almost four billion.
Although PSG recently altered its strategy and no longer purchases the most expensive stars after the megastar dollar flop, it is important to note that the team's recent victories are the result of Qatar's petro-capitalism. Talents such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelias, Vitinhas, Achraf Hakimi, and Ousmane Dembélé joined the team at staggering fees, totaling approximately 700 million euros, more than double the cost of Inter Milan's team.
Despite the criticisms, PSG and its investors have managed to silence much of the Western condemnation through the formation of a team of dazzling dribblers and hardworking players who share a common ethos. This success has garnered widespread support, even from football romantics who once wished ill upon the team.
However, amidst the celebration, it is crucial to acknowledge the suffering beneath the surface. Regardless of the powerful's triumph, the plight of the oppressed and exploited in Qatar should not be forgotten. The bold moves and investments of the Qatari elite in the world of football create an unsettling precedent, one that risks further entrenching systems of exploitation and oppression in the name of success.
UEFA is considering changes to the Champions League format, but for now, the hardships endured by numerous migrant workers and vulnerable communities in Qatar persist.
1) The City of Paris is home to a professional football team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which dominates the European leagues and holds the record for most Qatari investments in an employment policy, with significant capital flowing into its employment policy for over a decade.
2) Amidst their Champions League victory, concerns regarding migrant workers, women, and the LGBTQ+ community in Qatar have been brought to light. Critics argue that the success of PSG, which represents a nation with a questionable human rights record, is not purely sports-related but rather a product of its employment policy, financed by Qatar's wealth largely accumulated from petro-capitalism.
