Is it worth making enemies of Russia, Qatar over football?

The opportunity to score points by bashing FIFA, Russia and Qatar was too good for the parliamentarians to pass up. One by one, they lined up to take shots. It was the political equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel: easy.And although representing countries flung far and wide — Estonia, France, Ireland, Germany, Austria, et cetera — many of the speakers found common cause in the idea of stripping the World Cup from Russia and Qatar, especially if the 2018 and 2022 hosts are found to have bribed FIFA voters.

But this talk-fest in the European Parliament last week lacked a vital ingredient: another side to the story. None of the more than 40 MEPs who spoke talked about the consequences, about how Russia and Qatar could lash out against such a humiliating body blow, if it ever comes to that.

Might they retaliate by switching off gas and oil they supply to the worldIJ Withhold tradeIJ

PRICKlY PUTIN: Stripping Russia would confirm Vladimir Putin’s impression, which many Russians share, that “the West is out to get him,” says Tony Brenton, former British ambassador to Moscow.“They will blame the west, they will view it as an American plot, essentially,” he said. A wounded Russia could become even pricklier to negotiate with on big issues, including but not limited to: restoring peace to Ukraine and Syria and preventing Iran from building a nuclear bomb.

GUlF BRIDGED: Qatar and its Persian Gulf neighbors don’t always see eye-to-eye. But they’d likely unite if the 2022 tournament is moved, opening a rupture between the west and its suppliers of energy.

ARAB ANGER: Depriving the Middle East of its first World Cup “will be seen by Arabs and more than a billion Muslims and other west Asians as proof of the west’s bad faith,” says Qatar’s former ambassador to Washington, Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa.But Muslim extremists will be delighted, citing this as evidence that the west doesn’t respect Muslims or treat Muslim partners as equals.

MONEY TAlKS: Ultimately, trade and investment would keep Russia, Qatar and the west glued together. Russia might threaten to reduce energy exports, but is too dependent on that revenue to actually turn off taps. Same for Qatar.Those considering taking away the rights should re-consider.

Brussels: Belgium’s football federation could seek compensation for the money spent on its unsuccessful bid for the 2018 World Cup if there is evidence of wrongdoing in FIFA’s choice of Russia as host.Belgium bid jointly with the Netherlands for the 2018 WC.The Belgian federation spent $514,000 of Belgium’s total share of $5.14 million of the bid campaign.

Argentines turn themselves in Buenos Aires: Two Argentine businessmen wanted in the US turned themselves in to authorities on Thursday.

Accompanied by their lawyers, Hugo Jinkis and son Mariano presented themselves at a federal court in Buenos Aires. They stated their intention to fight a US extradition order and requested house arrest rather than jail while they do so.