jon1959
04-11-22, 15:45
I saw a few articles earlier in the week saying Dutch fans were being paid (with free flights and tickets) to monitor social media coverage of the tournament, and to post 'positive' messages. Basically acting as 'bought' spin doctors for the Qatari regime. Seems there are a lot more fans from more countries signing up to this little scheme - including English and Welsh fans, if this is true:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/04/england-and-wales-fans-being-paid-to-promote-world-cup-from-qatar
A number of England and Wales fans will be paid to travel to Qatar for the World Cup and given free tickets to the opening ceremony, but there is a catch: they will be expected to be ambassadors for the tournament.
Members of the Fan Leader Network, a group which Qatari authorities say “contributes to tournament planning through fan insight, research, content creation and message amplification”, have been offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of travelling to the tournament, providing they agree to certain terms and conditions.
A number of England and Wales fans have signed up to the deal, which includes paid-for flights and accommodation but necessitates a minimum 14-day stay and attending “selected and scheduled” events. One will be the opening ceremony on Sunday 20 November, during which fan leaders will feature in short sections of the TV coverage. “Ideally we hope that you will stay for the entire duration of the 29 day tournament,” organisers told potential travellers. The Times has reported that 40 England fans and 40 Wales fans have agreed to take up the offer.
According to the terms and conditions of a deal initially revealed by the Dutch broadcaster NOS, travellers will in effect be asked to promote the tournament and the experience as part of the trip. Key to the deal will be the “‘liking’ and re-sharing third-party posts”, while fans have also reportedly been asked to flag social media content that is critical of the event.
The conditions asked of fans are similar to those that might be asked of a social media influencer before undertaking paid promotion. But the terms have not put off some supporters, with fan representatives from all 32 countries expected to accept the offer of free hospitality at a tournament expected to be twice as expensive as the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/04/england-and-wales-fans-being-paid-to-promote-world-cup-from-qatar
A number of England and Wales fans will be paid to travel to Qatar for the World Cup and given free tickets to the opening ceremony, but there is a catch: they will be expected to be ambassadors for the tournament.
Members of the Fan Leader Network, a group which Qatari authorities say “contributes to tournament planning through fan insight, research, content creation and message amplification”, have been offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of travelling to the tournament, providing they agree to certain terms and conditions.
A number of England and Wales fans have signed up to the deal, which includes paid-for flights and accommodation but necessitates a minimum 14-day stay and attending “selected and scheduled” events. One will be the opening ceremony on Sunday 20 November, during which fan leaders will feature in short sections of the TV coverage. “Ideally we hope that you will stay for the entire duration of the 29 day tournament,” organisers told potential travellers. The Times has reported that 40 England fans and 40 Wales fans have agreed to take up the offer.
According to the terms and conditions of a deal initially revealed by the Dutch broadcaster NOS, travellers will in effect be asked to promote the tournament and the experience as part of the trip. Key to the deal will be the “‘liking’ and re-sharing third-party posts”, while fans have also reportedly been asked to flag social media content that is critical of the event.
The conditions asked of fans are similar to those that might be asked of a social media influencer before undertaking paid promotion. But the terms have not put off some supporters, with fan representatives from all 32 countries expected to accept the offer of free hospitality at a tournament expected to be twice as expensive as the 2018 World Cup in Russia.