There can be no question, America is a nation that is angry and divided.

In Maine, we’ve been known to go a little overboard with our lawn signs and bumper stickers, with their “colorful language” ensuring every primary schooler is well-prepared to ace the profanity section of standardized tests.

As a country, we might get so hot under the collar that some of us stage an insurrection, threaten to hang our vice president, and storm the Capitol. We can see these things unfold before our eyes, and we will still disagree on the facts; whether an attempt to overturn an election, or to thwart a peaceful transfer of power, is a threat to our democracy.

But Americans can still get united behind sports.

We’ve seen fans rally behind players and teams through thick and thin. Steelers’ fans didn’t abandon Big Ben Roethlisberger even after two women accused him of rape after his second Super Bowl. An officer at one of the incidents said accuser Andrea McNulty was a “drunken b—tch,” thereby signifying to fans whose side they should be on. Roethlisberger settled out of court with McNulty, and the other claim was dropped. McNulty subsequently suffered from depression. Roethlisberger’s career continued with his reputation unscathed. Big Ben will likely head to the Hall of Fame. Steelers fans can rejoice.

True sports fans never waiver. For example, take it from ESPN commentator, Stephen A. Smith, steroids be damned, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should be in the Hall of Fame. Remember the endless debates of “Deflategate”? Patriots fans welcomed Tom Brady back in a heartbeat. It was the weather that affected the footballs, right?!?

We’ve seen big names making headlines. Brett Favre has been linked to a massive welfare fraud scheme in Mississippi. Kyrie Irving for promoting an antisemitic movie on social media. Deshaun Watson was accused by over two dozen women of sexual misconduct. But fans understand the importance of contrition and redemption. Of revering our heroes. And of winning. Favre has yet to face any serious accountability. Irving eventually apologized, sort of, and is playing again. And Watson has completed his suspension.

So that brings me to the World Cup in Qatar. Qatar, a small country in the Middle East. Possibly an odd country to host a World Cup, as the temperatures are known to reach temperatures in excess of 100 degrees in the summers. I suppose that’s why FIFA decided to move it to November.

Heat aside, what makes Qatar noteworthy? Is it their sovereign wealth fund of over $335 billion? Is it that Qatar exports more liquified gas than any other country in the world? Is it that it houses the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East? Or is it that Qatar has invested so much money and time on constructing a strict national and cultural identity that human rights have been cast utterly aside?

Qatar has money to grease lots of wheels, but women can’t drive them — at least not without permission from a man. You might read that Qatari women are allowed to drive, be educated, travel the world, and live lavish lives. All true, if their guardians deem it so. That is, in Qatar, women have no legal authority to make any educational, medical, or financial decisions for themselves or their children. They live in a regime of male guardianship. Women who want more, who don’t live by the rules, or who report rape, suffer severe consequences. And while much of this is through Qatari laws, just as much is through cultural and familiar practices which continue to repress and oppress women.

But maybe you knew this. Surely, you heard how FIFA initially banned rainbow armbands supporting LGBTQ rights at the World Cup. And how fans were stopped from entering the stadiums if they were wearing rainbow gear too.

You might have also heard about the migrant workers who worked in appalling conditions preparing for the World Cup. It was estimated more than 6,500 migrant workers died, though Qatar now claims the number is a mere 400-500.

Some athletes have pushed back to show support. How about the teams that pledged to wear LGBTQ armbands? Oh, wait, it seems the threat of a yellow card was too daunting. What about Germany’s team photo covering their mouths to protest the LGBTQ armband ban? They did it once. Midfielder İlkay Gündoğan explained, “Honestly, my point of view is now the politics are finished. Now it’s just about football — enjoying and celebrating — so that’s the most important thing.”

Right. It’s the World Cup! We rally. That’s what fans do! Maybe Deshaun Watson’s coach put it correctly when he talked about Watson returning to play: “Whatever is going on on the outside really can’t matter to us.”

Because there’s no politics in sports? Maybe there should be more of it.

Hilary Koch lives in Waterville. She can be reached at: hilarykoch@pm.me

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