South African comedian Trevor Noah recently questioned the hypocrisy of Western journalism during a World Cup watch party. Reacting to questions Western journalists posed to Iranian players after their matches, he asked why African and Middle Eastern teams are held accountable for their governments' actions, while European teams are not.

Noah argued that the notion of football rising above politics is a myth. Politics and hypocrisy have always been part of the sport. Russia was banned for invading Ukraine, South Africa for apartheid, but Israel continues to play despite occupying Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, bombing Iran, and facing accusations of genocide in Gaza. The US has never been banned for its wars of aggression.

This selective accountability extends to the press. Iranian and Egyptian teams were questioned about LGBTQ rights, but American players are not routinely asked about US bombings or border policies. English, French, and German players are not expected to answer for their governments' wars or colonial legacies.

Western footballers are treated as individuals representing a country, while players from the Global South are turned into representatives of regimes. Press conferences become ideological checkpoints where they must explain their governments, societies, and religions before discussing tactics or injuries.

Noah's question highlights the double standards of Western media, which claims to challenge power but often mirrors its assumptions. The real issue is not whether politics belongs in sport—it always has—but who is forced to carry that burden and who is allowed to simply play.

Source: www.aljazeera.com