TOXIC FALLOUT FROM THE WORLD CUP »

At the World Cup final, Argentina wrestled the magnificent $20 million, 18-carat solid gold World Cup trophy from France, the defending champion. Enthusiastic sports commentators raved about “the best supermatch of all time.” But when the dust of the desert has settled, there’s nothing left in Doha but the bitter taste of defeat – a defeat brought on by the failure of sportswashing to gloss over the Qatari image and present the Gulf state to the world as a liberal modern state. Among the debris from the Qatar fallout is the tarnished image of the European Parliament, some of whose MEPs, staff and lobbyists are accused of accepting succulent sportswashing bribes from Qatar. Upbraiding the suspects, EP President Roberta Metsola said, “Shame on you for violating the trust of the people of Europe.”