*The FIFA boss appears to be getting his talking points directly from the Qatari authorities- Human Rights groups
After 12 years of arguments, and criticisms
of the tournament taking place in Qatar, the World Cup finally kicked off on Sunday with an extraordinary verbal attack against Western countries from FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.
While addressing journalists in Doha, Qatar on Saturday, Infantino accused Western critics of Qatar's human rights records of hypocrisy, racism, and double moral standards, according to a CNN report.
Referring to criticisms of Qatar’s human rights record, Infantino said, "We are taught many lessons from Europeans, from the Western world.”
“This moral lesson-giving — one-sided — is just hypocrisy.
“I don’t want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust.”
The 52- year old Swiss-Italian further stated, “What is sad is that, especially in the last weeks, we have been witnessing, in some places, a real lesson of double moral [standards].”
“I’m European. I think for what we Europeans have been doing for 3,000 years around the world, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years before giving moral lessons to people, ”Infantino said.
I feel African, Qatari, Arab, and gay- Infantino.
In his remarkable press conference, Infantino did not dwell much on soccer but focused his attention on what he described as the “hypocrisy” of Western criticism.
As the son of migrant workers and a victim of bullying as a child for his red hair, and freckles, Infantino said he understands what it is like to experience discrimination.
"Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel like a migrant worker,” he said, before a stunned audience.
“I feel this, all this, because of what I’ve been seeing and what I’ve been told, since I don’t read, otherwise I would be depressed I think.
“What I’ve seen brings me back to my personal story. I am a son of migrant workers. My parents were working very very hard in difficult situations.”
Infantino noted that progress had been made in Qatar on a range of issues, but maintained that real change took time and consistent engagement.
He said that FIFA would not leave the Qatari people after the tournament ended, suggesting that he thought some Western journalists would forget about the issues.
"We need to invest in education, to give them a better future, to give them hope. We should all educate ourselves,” he said.
“Reform and change take time. It took hundreds of years in our countries in Europe. It takes time everywhere, the only way to get results is by engaging […] not by shouting.”
Alcohol ban
Another dominant issue in the build-up to the tournament is the sale of beer in the Islamic state, which severely restricts alcohol consumption.
Just 48 hours before kickoff, organizers on Friday made a surprising U-turn, banning the sales of beer sales around the 8 stadiums scheduled to host the 64 matches of the tournament.
A statement issued by FIFA on Friday said that alcohol would be sold at fan zones and licensed venues.
Infantino also addressed issues around this last-minute decision.
“Let me first assure you that every decision that is taken in this World Cup is a joint decision between Qatar and FIFA. Every decision is discussed, debated, and taken jointly, ” Infantino said.
“There will be […] over 200 places where you can buy alcohol in Qatar and over 10 fan zones, where over 100,000 people can simultaneously drink alcohol.
“I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive.”
“Especially because the same rules apply in France or in Spain or in Portugal or in Scotland, where no beer is allowed in stadiums now,” he added.
“It seems to become a big thing because it’s a Muslim country, or I don’t know why.”
Infantino ended the press conference by insisting that everyone would be safe in Qatar in response to concerns raised by the LGBT community.
“Let me mention, as well, the LGBT situation. I have been speaking about this topic with the highest leadership of the country several times, not just once. They have confirmed, and I can confirm, that everyone is welcome,” Infantino said.
“This is a clear FIFA requirement. Everyone has to be welcomed, everyone that comes to Qatar is welcome whatever religion, race, sexual orientation, or belief she or he has. Everyone is welcome. This was our requirement and the Qatari state sticks to that requirement,” Infantino said.
Qatar is a Muslim country considered to be very conservative and tightly regulates the sales and use of alcohol.
Qatar had announced in September that it would allow ticketed supporters to purchase alcoholic beers at World Cup stadiums three hours before kickoffs and for one hour after the final whistle, but not while the game was in progress.
Qatar's law against homosexuality has a maximum three-year prison sentence, but FIFA President assured that this was a tournament for everyone.
Your comments were "crass” and an “insult” to migrant workers, human rights groups tell Infantino
However, Human rights groups have roundly criticized the FIFA boss and his speech.
Director of FairSquare, a non-profit human rights organization, Nicholas McGeehan said in a statement: “Infantino’s comments were as crass as they were clumsy and suggest that the FIFA president is getting his talking points directly from the Qatari authorities."
A statement by Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice said: “In brushing aside legitimate human rights criticisms, Gianni Infantino is dismissing the enormous price paid by migrant workers to make his flagship tournament possible – as well as FIFA’s responsibility for it.
"Demands for equality, dignity, and compensation cannot be treated as some sort of culture war.”
The choice of several players, notably England captain Harry Kane and German captain Manuel Neuer, to wear a "OneLove" armband to encourage diversity and inclusion, however, raised the possibility of yet another controversy on Saturday.
The action increases the possibility of disciplinary action from FIFA, who on Saturday disclosed plans to provide teams with alternative armbands which will feature a different social campaign for each round.
Neuer expressed his intention to wear the rainbow-colored "OneLove" armbands.
“Other European nations are wearing (the armband) and it is good we are doing it together,” Neuer said.
This historic tournament, the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, has been dogged by controversy, with much of the lead-up concentrating on human rights, from the death of migrant workers, the conditions many have faced in Qatar, as well as LGBTQ and women’s rights.
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