Will the 2018 World Cup become the latest huge event boycotted?
With all sorts of threats being issued following FIFA's disappointing report into bid process corruption, the world of football is buzzing with talk of a tournament boycott.
It seems hard to believe, but with major figures in European football pushing for a boycott - notably Germany and England - then there really could be something in it.
And the fact is that major events have witnessed large-scale boycotts before - with mixed success.
1930 World Cup
Who did the boycotting? Every country in Europe.
The reason? The inaugural World Cup had no qualifying tournament, with FIFA simply inviting all the member nations to take part. But all of Europe was enraged at the decision to host the event in South America, necessitating a long and expensive trip across the ocean. So to a man they simply failed to respond ahead of the application deadline of February 28.
What happened? Four countries were pesuaded to back down after FIFA president Jules Rimet intervened. Belgium, France, Romania, and Yugoslavia made the trip, allowing FIFA to represent it as a true 'world' cup. Needless to say, Uruguayans don't talk much about the absence of teams such as Germany and Italy when talking about their eventual victory in the tournament.
The aftermatch? Uruguay responded in mature and dignified fashion by boycotting the next tournament, held in Italy in 1934. It remains the only World Cup to-date in which the defending champions haven't taken part.
1980 Moscow Olympics
Who did the boycotting? The United States led over 50 nations staying at home, including West Germany, Canada, Japan and Great Britain. But a fudge by some nations - among them the latter - meant that many Brits still managed to take part.
The reason? It was a protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, which came aginst the background of several years of relatively promising disarmament talks - and had the effect of warming the Cold War up for several years.
What happened? US athletes stayed at home en masse, but Great Britain's stars had better luck. Along with a few nations such as France and Australia, the British government boycotted the Games, but left the decision on whether to take part up to each sport's individual Olympic committee, and the consciences of the athletes themselves. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher piled on the pressure, but while some sports (including hockey) stepped into line, most ignored the government and the athletes took part - even Sebastian Coe, who would later become a Tory MP. Britain won five golds – including Steve Ovett in the 800m, Coe in the 1500m and Allan Wells in the 100m.
The aftermath? The Soviet Union and its allies - 16 nations in all - boycotted the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. The USSR stayed in Afghanistan until 1989.
2005 US Grand Prix
Who did the boycotting? Seven of the 10 teams on the grid for the US Grand Prix who were running Michelin tyres.
The reason? Following a bad Ralf Schumacher crash in practice session at Indianapolis, the teams held worried talks with tyre supplier Michelin, who said that the tyres wouldn't be safe unless a late change was made to the track. Nine of the ten teams agreed to put a chicane at the final corner, which would have solved the problem. One team said no: Ferrari, whose cars ran the unaffected Bridgestone tyres. They weren't being difficult, however: FIA race director Charlie Whiting was also fiercely critical of the idea of changing the circuit.
What happened? Just six cars started the race, which became one of the most notorious farces in motor racing history. Unsurprisingly, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won.
The aftermatch? The existing split-supplier contracts were honoured until the end of the 2006 season; since then, however, F1 has only ever had one tyre supplier.
1982 South African Grand Prix
Who did the boycotting? Niki Lauda led a strike of all the drivers - with the exception of Jochen Mass - ahead of the race at Kylami.
The reason? The drivers had new clauses inserted into the "superlicences" that they needed to race at the time, and Lauda and co were furious - they were effectively banned from negotiating for future seats during the season, and prevented any form of public criticism of the sport or its masters.
What happened? The Grand Prix Drivers' Association hired a coach, and took all the drivers off to spend the day at a hotel - something which turned into a bit of a party, with Gilles Villeneuve playing the piano, and Britain's Derek Warwick saying that it was "fantastic" and that he "got to know my colleagues properly for the first time."
Bernie Ecclestone - who hadn't long taken over the sport - was absolutely furious, but eventually F1's organisers backed down, promising no sanctions against the strikers, and the race went ahead.
The aftermath? A total victory for the boycott? Not quite. Afterwards, FISA went back on its promise to the drivers, slapping them with fines of between $5,000 and $10,000 and bans of two to five races. Those punishments were later reduced, however, with the FIA's appeal court condemning the drivers' treatment.
1968-9 Cricket tour of South Africa
Who did the boycotting? England's cricket team.
The reason? England had picked Basil d'Oliveira for the winter tour of South Africa - despite South Africa's long-standing policy of refusing to play any team containing any non-white stars. D'Oliveira had originally been left out of the squad, but was called in as an injury replacement thus bringing the issue to a head.
What happened? With South Africa unwilling to budge and allow the South African-born d'Oliveira to play, the MCC cancelled the tour. D'Oliveira's initial snub from the squad had been highly controversial (he'd scored 158 just a few weeks before at the Oval), and was seen by many as an attempt by the MCC to let the tour go ahead; but when he was drafted in.
The aftermath? This was the first major sport to begin a sporting boycott of South Africa, and one which hit the Apartheid regime hard since it revolved around a sport hugely popular among white South Africans. Sporting boycotts became one of the cornerstones of anti-Apartheid policy around the world, and no less a figure than Nelson Mandela would later herald the contribution this stance made.
1973 Wimbledon
Who did the boycotting? 81 of the biggest names in men's tennis, including defending champion Stan Smith, John Newcombe, Arthur Ashe and Ken Rosewall as 13 of the 16 seeds pulled out.
The reason? Yugoslavia's Nikki Pilic had been suspended by the then governing body, the International Lawn Tennis Federation, after he had missed a Davis Cup tie against New Zealand. Pilic denied having refused to play, but the Yugoslavs stuck to their story and the man who had made the final at the French Open a few weeks beforehand was banned for his very next Grand Slam.
What happened? A huge number of qualifiers and wildcards took part in the tournament, which was won by clay-court specialist Jan Kode.
The aftermath? Pilic eventually became a coach after his successful playing career and made his peace with the Davis Cup - he went on to lead Germany, Croatia and Serbia to success in the international tournament.
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