This weekend the biggest sporting event on the planet is set to begin. But why are we singling out Qatar for special criticism whilst allowing other nations to bomb, kill and maim at will?

You can guarantee one of two things happens before any major international sporting event.

First, we decide to call out how the country has a poor human rights record and secondly, we ridicule how the planning went - scoffing at how we Brits could have done it better.

On the whole, but not always, we tend to only do this with countries and cultures that are at odds with our own. Everyone else is free to cause as much havoc and death as they want.

These past few months we have heard nothing but the familiar discontent being levelled at Qatar, which is hosting the World Cup.

Yet, we didn’t hear pundits and players calling for a boycott of Newcastle or Manchester City which are owned by Saudi Arabia and the Emirates respectively. Little is said when the rich sheikhs decide to sponsor our events.

The stadiums in Qatar were built in the very same way that hotels and mega structures have gone up in other Middle-Eastern nations – cheap labour from South Asia. Many of us have called this out for decades.

Much of what we know could be said about many other nations we tend to cosy up with. Our ‘strategic’ partners tend to be able kill and maim others as long as they buy our expensive weapons.

When was the last time Qatar tried to instigate a coup or was involved in illegal assassinations? When was the last time Qatar bombed the hell out of another country all in the name of freedom? When was the last time Qatar occupied another country to squander its natural resources?

When the allies obliterated Iraq and Libya did all sporting events stop in the USA and Britain?

As well as issues relating to freedom of expression, the major problem with the World Cup in Qatar has got to do with the timing and the fact the country is far too small.

I actually would have liked the tournament to be held in a country with a footballing history rather than to the highest bidder.

I am sure they will make a success of it because when the football begins few care what happens outside the stadiums. Well, those who manage to get a beer anyway.

In four years time we will head to the states. I love America and actually root for the American football team but I hate how the government sometimes sponsors state terrorists and backs some unruly leaders until they become too dangerous to control.

Hopefully, we can have a discussion on this in the run up to the 2026 World Cup.