Fifa President Gianni Infantino has condemned critics of the World Cup in Qatar. PA
Fifa President Gianni Infantino has condemned critics of the World Cup in Qatar. PA
Fifa President Gianni Infantino has condemned critics of the World Cup in Qatar. PA
Fifa President Gianni Infantino has condemned critics of the World Cup in Qatar. PA

Fifa chief Infantino defends hosts Qatar on eve of 2022 World Cup


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The head of Fifa has said western countries should not criticise World Cup hosts Qatar and should apologise for their own histories.

Gianni Infantino gave an hour-long press conference in Doha on Saturday and said he struggled to understand the condemnation of Qatar over the treatment of migrant workers.

The tournament kicks off in the country on Sunday.

"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," Mr Infantino said at an event broadcast live on television.

"If Europe really cares about the destiny of these people, they can create legal channels — like Qatar did — where a number of these workers can come to Europe to work. Give them some future, some hope.

"I have difficulties understanding the criticism. We have to invest in helping these people, in education, and to give them a better future and more hope.

"We should all educate ourselves. Many things are not perfect, but reform and change takes time.

"This one-sided moral lesson is just hypocrisy. I wonder why no one recognises the progress made here since 2016."

Speaking about how the West should be handling any conflicts of belief with Qatar, Mr Infantino said criticism was not the best course of action.

"Don't start accusing, fighting, insulting. You start engaging. And this is what we should be doing," he said.

In reference to a last minute U-turn by footballing authorities to ban the sale of alcohol inside stadiums, Mr Infantino said it was a joint decision between Fifa and the Qatari government.

“Honestly, if this is the biggest [concern] we have for the World Cup I will sign immediately. Let me assure you that every decision that is taken at this World Cup is a joint decision," he said.

“It is discussed, debated and taken jointly. There will be many fan zones. Eight to 10. Over 200 places you can drink alcohol.

"I think personally for three hours a day if you cannot drink, you will survive. The same rules are in France, Spain and Scotland, where no beer is allowed in stadiums.”

The tournament in Qatar has been 12 years in the making, with critics focusing on how the country was preparing for the tournament.

The games begin on Sunday evening when the hosts take on Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium. Qatar will go on to play Senegal and the Netherlands.

While Qatar regularly participates in the continental AFC Asian Cup, the national team has stumbled at the final stage of World Cup qualifying campaigns.

As the host nation, Qatar automatically qualified and is the first Arab nation to host the tournament.

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

MATCH INFO

Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
 
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned

The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):

British group

Coldplay

Foals

Bring me the Horizon

D-Block Europe

Bastille

British Female

Mabel

Freya Ridings

FKA Twigs

Charli xcx

Mahalia​

British male

Harry Styles

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Michael Kiwanuka

Stormzy​

Best new artist

Aitch

Lewis Capaldi

Dave

Mabel

Sam Fender

Best song

Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care

Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up

Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant

Dave - Location

Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove

Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved

Tom Walker - Just You and I

Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger

Stormzy - Vossi Bop

International female

Ariana Grande

Billie Eilish

Camila Cabello

Lana Del Rey

Lizzo

International male

Bruce Springsteen

Burna Boy

Tyler, The Creator

Dermot Kennedy

Post Malone

Best album

Stormzy - Heavy is the Head

Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka

Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent

Dave - Psychodrama

Harry Styles - Fine Line

Rising star

Celeste

Joy Crookes

beabadoobee

RESULT

Arsenal 2

Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'

Eddie Ntkeiah 51'

Portsmouth 0

 

Updated: November 19, 2022, 11:08 AM