‘Just go away’: Robert Smith slams FIFA’s Super Bowl-style World Cup final plans
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Robert Smith, lead singer of The Cure, criticized FIFA's plans for a Super Bowl-style halftime show at the World Cup final.
- Smith stated his criticism was not directed at BTS, who were rumored to be performing, but at FIFA's commercialization of football.
- He expressed concern that FIFA is turning the sport into an American-style entertainment product.
Robert Smith, the iconic frontman of the British rock band The Cure, has sharply criticized FIFA's vision for a halftime show at the World Cup final, likening it to a Super Bowl spectacle. Smith clarified that his strong words were aimed at FIFA's commercial ambitions, not at the K-pop group BTS, who were rumored to be part of the performance.
Smith voiced his disapproval of what he perceives as FIFA's attempt to transform the World Cup into an American-style entertainment event. He expressed concern that the organization is prioritizing commercial appeal over the integrity and tradition of the sport.
"It wasn't criticism of BTS," Smith reportedly stated, emphasizing that his ire was directed at FIFA's strategy. His comments highlight a tension between the traditional values of football and the increasing pressure to adopt a more commercialized, entertainment-focused model, particularly influenced by American sports marketing.
It wasn't criticism of BTS
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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