Sporting question - why are we angsting about Qatar and rugby? 

Why won't Mark Robinson at the NZRU talk about the Middle East and whether we are going there, or expanding there, or holding tournaments there? 

Why are we so edgy about Saudi Arabia and Qatar and all the other moneyed places that want to expand their sporting portfolios? 

I know, I know, it’s the human rights record. It might be the way they treat women, or immigrants or plenty of others to pick on. 

But here's a couple of critical things. 

The horse has already bolted. Those countries have decided sport needs to play a bigger part in their tourism and cultural push into the wider world and they have the money to make it happen. 

They are the Middle East Vegas. Build it and they will come. 

Everything from football world cups, to boxing, to snooker - sport worked out a long time ago money is what pays the bill, expands the reach and pays for the noise that attracts the fans. 

Secondly, why are we so high and mighty about human rights when it comes to sport? 

Everything from holidaying in Fiji, where political and cultural skirmishes have flared for years, to China who remain our biggest trading partner by a mile; the world is full of people who do odd things. 

Whether it's religion, culture, politics or law and order, if you want a list of stuff we have trouble with there is no shortage of regimes and countries. Yet we buy from them, visit them and befriend them. 

Then for reasons that really highlight our hypocrisy  and inconsistency, we then go and get all exercised when it comes to sport. 

That of course, is why sport and politics should never be mixed. 

Because the only loser is the sport. As you object or withdraw or make your point, someone else is lined up to bank the cheque and the fans aren't far behind. 

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