The Next Edition
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Featured
  • Investigations
  • Foreign
  • Special Reports
  • Entertainment
  • Interviews
  • Advert Rate
No Result
View All Result
The Next Edition
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Featured
  • Investigations
  • Foreign
  • Special Reports
  • Entertainment
  • Interviews
  • Advert Rate
Home Top News

Infantino Says Criticism Of Qatar “Hypocritical”

Next Edition by Next Edition
November 19, 2022
in Top News
Infantino Says Criticism Of Qatar “Hypocritical”
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has accused the Western countries of “hypocrisy” and slammed the criticism towards World Cup hosts Qatar during his opening speech ahead of the tournament on Saturday.

“For what we Europeans have been doing around the world in the last 3,000 years we should be apologising for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people,” the head of the football governing body said.

You might also like

FG Offers N50m Grant To Outstanding Varsity Students

Truck Crushes Police Inspector To Death In Ogun

Lagos Re-opens Oko-Oba Abbatoir

“How many of these European or Western business companies who earn millions from Qatar, billions, how many of them have addressed migrant workers’ rights with the authorities?

“None of them, because if you change the legislation it means less profit. But we did, and FIFA generates much less than any of these companies from Qatar.”

The FIFA president spoke for nearly an hour and made a defence of the tournament and Qatar.

The country has been sharply criticised for its human rights conditions, the deaths of migrant workers and its treatment of LGBTQ people.

Infantino opened his monologue saying: “Today, I have strong feelings. Today, I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel a migrant worker.”

His statement was immediately criticised on social media.

Many of the critics pointed out that if he was indeed gay, he would not be able to openly say that in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal under Islamic Sharia law.

Ahead of the World Cup, former Qatar international Khalid Salman, one of several ambassadors of the tournament starting on Sunday, named being gay “damage in the mind”.

Infantino has now assured that all queer people would be warmly welcome and safe in the country.

“Everyone is welcome. This was our requirement and the Qatari state sticks to that requirement.”

Asked about the multi-coloured One Love armband, which several team captains are planning to wear as a sign for equality, Infantino was vague.

He did not say whether there would be fines.

“We have regulations about the armbands. They are provided by FIFA,” Infantino said.

READ ALSO: Police Rescue Caged, Malnourished 17-Year-Old Girl In Jos

He added that these regulations are based on universal campaigns and that “the field of play of the World Cup should really be about football and global causes.”

Another topic that caused stir in the build-up to the tournament was the ban on alcoholic beer at World Cup stadiums and surrounding areas.

This was confirmed just two days ahead of the opening ceremony.

Alcohol is not prohibited in Qatar, but its sale is restricted to bars and restaurants in some hotels.

Previously, there was reportedly an agreement to allow beer sales in areas between the security check and the ticket check at the venues.

Beer company Budweiser is one of the major sponsors of the tournament.

Infantino, however, dismissed suggestions that FIFA lost control of its own tournament following the ban.

“Let me first assure you that every decision taken at this World Cup is a joint decision between Qatar and FIFA.”

“There will be many fan zones where you can buy alcohol in Qatar and fans can simultaneously drink alcohol.

“I think if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he said.(dpa/NAN)

Tags: criticismEuropeanFIFAFootballQatar
Next Edition

Next Edition

Recommended For You

COVID-19: FG Mulls Alternatives on WAEC, Schools Re-opening

FG Offers N50m Grant To Outstanding Varsity Students

  The federal Government has offered a N50 million venture capital grant to outstanding students in Nigerian universities. It was gathered that the grant was for students in...

FCT Police Take Custody Of Suspect Accused Of Taking Woman To Hotel For Ritual

Truck Crushes Police Inspector To Death In Ogun

  A police inspector, Afolabi Adeola, was reportedly killed after he was hit by a truck at a checkpoint along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Motorway in Ogun State. Our correspondent...

Lagos Shuts Oko-Oba Abattoir Over Unsanitary Practices

Lagos Re-opens Oko-Oba Abbatoir

  The Lagos State Government has directed the immediate re-opening of the Oko-Oba Abbatoir in Agege following the fulfillment of sanitation and hygienic prescriptions by the operators. The...

Gunmen Invade Monarch’s Palace In Benue, Kill Son, Abduct Daughter

Gunmen Abduct, Kill Anambra Chief After N15m Ransom

  Panic has gripped the Nimo community in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State following the murder of a prominent traditional titleholder and community leader popularly...

Next Post
CBN to sell N823.4b worth of treasury bills in Q1

Why CBN Monetary Policy Is Not Working – Economist




Related News

Kaduna State Govt. Imposes 24-hour Curfew on Kajuru LGA

Kaduna State Govt. Imposes 24-hour Curfew on Kajuru LGA

Emefiele Granted N20m Bail

Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of $4.7m, N830m Assets Linked To Emefiele

Mohbad: Police Begin Investigation On Illegal Embalming Of Late Singer

Mohbad’s Family Lawyers Question Toxicology Results, Demand New Probe




The Next Edition

Office Address

3B, Agboola Aina street, Off Toyin Street,
Ikeja, Lagos.

Quick Contact Details

Phone:
08033018430
Whatsapp:
08051679910

Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Categories

  • Aviation
  • Beauty
  • Breaking News
  • Business
  • Columnists
  • Editorial
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion
  • Featured
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Headline News
  • Home & Garden
  • Interviews
  • Investigations
  • North Central
  • North East
  • North West
  • Opinion
  • Parenting
  • Politics
  • Relationships
  • South East
  • South West
  • South-South
  • Special Reports
  • Sports
  • Top News
  • Vox Pops

© Next Edition Business Development Limited

  • About Us
  • Advert Rate
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • News
  • Featured
  • Investigations
  • Foreign
  • Special Reports
  • Entertainment
  • Interviews
  • Advert Rate

© Next Edition Business Development Limited