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FIFA president slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ over Qatar criticism

(2023-05-22 00:05:50) 下一个

FIFA chief accuses Qatar critics of double standards

https://www.politico.eu/article/fifa-gianni-infantino-qatar-critic-double-standard/?

Infantino says he raised the issue of migrant workers with the Qatari authorities while European companies did not.

Gianni Infantino Speaks Ahead of Opening Match – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, on November 19, 2022 | Christopher Lee/Getty Images

 
NOVEMBER 19, 2022 12:24 PM CET
 
 
FIFA President Gianni Infantino blasted Western critics of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup, accusing them of “hypocrisy” a day ahead of the start of the global football tournament. 

Qatar has faced significant criticism for its treatment of migrant workers, as well as for discrimination against women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Rights groups have also pointed to unfair trials and limits on press freedom. 

In a press conference on Saturday, the FIFA chief said: “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker.”

Accusing the critics of double standards, Infantino said: “I think for what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years, before starting to give moral lessons to people.” 

“This one-sided moral lesson is just hypocrisy,” he added.

The FIFA boss said he faced discrimination in Europe as a child. “I am [the] son of migrant workers — my parents were working very, very hard, in very, very difficult conditions — not in Qatar, in Switzerland,” he said. 

“I know,” he added, “what it means to be discriminated, to be bullied as a foreigner.”

Infantino said he raised the issue of migrant workers with the local authorities in his first meeting with them, accusing European companies of not doing the same.

“How many of these European or Western business companies, who earn millions and millions from Qatar or other countries in the region — billions every year — how many of them have addressed migrant workers’ rights with the authorities? I have the answer to you: none of them,” Infantino said.

But, he said, “we did.” 

Infantino also addressed the last-minute decision to ban beer sales at World Cup stadiums, calling it nothing more than an inconvenience for spectators.

“We tried until the end to see whether it was possible,” Infantino said of permiting alcohol sales. “If for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he said. He said the decision was taken jointly by Qatar and FIFA.

“Maybe there is a reason why in France, in Spain, in Scotland, alcohol is banned in stadiums. Maybe they are more intelligent than us, having thought maybe we should be doing that,” he added.

Spectators in Qatar can consume alcohol in the evenings in “the FIFA Fan Festival,” a designated party area that also offers live music and activities, the Associated Press reported.

Qatar had earlier forced Budweiser — which has an exclusive contract to sell beer at World Cup matches — to relocate beer stalls outside the stadiums because Qatari officials wanted alcohol to be less prominent. Now it has been banned altogether.

The World Cup starts on Sunday with an opening match between Qatar and Ecuador.

FIFA president slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ over Qatar criticism

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/19/fifa-president-slams-the-west-of-hypocrisy-over-qatar-criticism

In fiery news conference, Gianni Infantino said Western countries were not in a position to give ‘moral lessons’

By Hamza Mohamed  On 19 Nov 2022 
 

Doha, Qatar – FIFA President Gianni Infantino accused Western countries of “hypocrisy” saying they were not in a position to give “moral lessons” to other nations, hours before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar.

In a fiery news conference in the Qatari capital on the eve of the tournament, the Swiss Italian said Europe should address its past crimes before pointing fingers at Qatar.

“I’m European. 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,” Infantino told hundreds of reporters on Saturday.

Qatar, which was awarded the right to host the global football tournament in 2010, has received criticism for its treatment of migrant workers and human rights record.

 

Infantino, son of migrant workers from Italy, said the Middle Eastern country has “made progress” in improving the rights of migrant workers.

“I came here six years ago and addressed the matter of migrant workers straight on, in my very first meeting,” Infantino said, pausing and looking straight at the gathered journalists.

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“How many of these European or Western business companies, who earned millions and millions from Qatar and other countries in the region – billions every year – how many of them addressed the rights of migrant workers with the authorities?

“I have the answer for you. None of them,” the FIFA chief said, adding “the one-sided moral lesson is just hypocrisy.”

Homosexuality is illegal in the country, but Qatar has said all fans are welcome to attend the showpiece event.

“I have been speaking about this topic with the highest leadership of the country. Several times, not just once. They have confirmed, I can confirm, that everyone is welcome,” the FIFA president said.

In remarks to reporters at the end of the news conference, FIFA media chief Bryan Swanson, who is gay, insisted everyone is welcome in Qatar.

“I’ve seen a lot of criticism of Gianni Infantino since I’ve joined FIFA, in particular from the LGBTQ community,” Swanson said.

“I’m sitting here in a privileged position on a global stage as a gay man here in Qatar. We have received assurances that everybody is welcome and I believe that everybody will be welcome in this World Cup,” he added.

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Critics also questioned Qatar, the first country in the Arab world to host the competition, for banning the sale of alcohol inside stadiums during the tournament.

“Every decision that is taken in this World Cup, it is a joint decision between Qatar and FIFA. Every decision is discussed, debated and taken jointly. There will be, I don’t know how many, fan zones – eight, 10, big fan zones, over 200 places where you can buy alcohol,” Infantino said.

He also pointed out this was not unusual as drinking inside football stadiums is banned in major European nations such as France, Spain, Portugal and Scotland.

Despite some critics calling for companies to boycott the World Cup, Infantino hailed the “commercial success” of this year’s tournament.

“We sold the media rights for around $200m more than the last World Cup,” he said. “We sold the sponsorship rights for also around $200m more than the last World Cup.

“And as far as ticketing and hospitality rights are concerned, we are at almost 200 to 300 million more than the last World Cup.”

Qatar will kick off the 32-team tournament on Sunday against Ecuador. Infantino said the Gulf country has done impressive work in preparing for the matches.

“Doha is ready. Qatar is ready. It will be the best World Cup ever, of course,” he said.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

West can’t lecture Qatar, says FIFA chief

 
Infantino made his feelings clear in a one-hour monologue in Doha. ©  Christopher Lee / Getty Images


Gianni Infantino said Europeans should ‘apologize for the next 3,000 years’ for their past sins Infantino made his feelings clear in a one-hour monologue in Doha. © Christopher Lee / Getty Images

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has launched a staunch defense of the Qatar World Cup ahead of the start of the tournament, claiming that the West is in no position to issue moral lessons to the Gulf state.

Ever since Qatar was awarded World Cup hosting rights in 2010, it has faced relentless questions in the Western media about its suitability as a venue.

Much of the discussion has focused on Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and members of its LGBT community.

But in an extraordinary monologue on the eve of the event, which gets underway on Sunday when Qatar play Ecuador, Infantino said Europeans were throwing stones in glass houses.

“We have told many, many lessons from some Europeans, from the Western world,” Infantino told the assembled media in Doha.

“I think for what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people.” Why Qatar will be a World Cup like no other
 

Infantino, who took over as FIFA boss in 2016 and oversaw a successful 2018 World Cup in Russia, had begun his speech by saying: “Today I have very strong feelings.”

“Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arabic. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel [like] a migrant worker…

“Of course, I am not Qatari, I am not an Arab, I am not African, I am not gay, I am not disabled. I am not really a migrant worker.

“But I feel like it, because I know what it means to be discriminated [against], to be bullied, as a foreigner in a foreign country,” added the FIFA chief.

Infantino discussed his own childhood in Switzerland as the son of “migrant workers” from Italy, saying: “As a child I was bullied – because I had red hair and freckles, I was bullied, plus I was Italian, so imagine.

“What do you do then? You try to engage, make friends… Don’t start accusing, fighting, insulting, you start engaging. And this is what we should be doing.” RT

Infantino insisted Qatar has made major progress on migrant worker rights. © Maja Hitij / FIFA via Getty Images

“There is 1 billion disabled people in the world. Nobody cares,” added Infantino, before taking Europe to task for its own handling of migrants.

“This moral lesson-giving is one-sided, it’s just hypocrisy,” said Infantino.

“Qatar has made progress as well,” Infantino insisted, vowing that it would be “the best World Cup ever” once the ball gets rolling.

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