World Cup 2022: Qatar World Cup organisers return criticism of Socceroos
Qatar World Cup organisers have responded to the Socceroos’ stinging criticism of the Gulf State’s human rights record - though there was one area of concern they would not discuss.
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Qatar’s World Cup organisers on Thursday hit back at criticism of the Gulf state’s rights record by the Australian football team, insisting that “no country is perfect”.
In response to the Australian call for better treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ community, a World Cup spokesperson said imposing “robust” labour laws had also been a “challenge” for Australia.
“We have committed every effort to ensuring that this World Cup has had a transformative impact on improving lives,” the organisers’ Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said.
“Protecting the health, safety, security, and dignity of every worker contributing to this World Cup is our priority.” Sixteen members of Australia’s football men’s team appeared in a short video on Thursday explaining their position.
They acknowledged Qatar’s attempts to improve conditions for migrant workers but said the changes had been “inconsistent”.
“We have learned that the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has resulted in the suffering and harm of countless of our fellow workers,” said midfielder Jackson Irvine, in a video in which 16 players gave comments.
The Qatari committee highlighted reforms on construction site safety and labour conditions that have been carried out in the past five years.
These have been praised by international unions and FIFA, though all have called for more progress.
A message from our @Socceroos on the @FIFAWorldCup#SupportingThePlayerspic.twitter.com/bUqW2pne1w
— Professional Footballers Australia (@thepfa) October 26, 2022
“New laws and reforms often take time to bed in, and robust implementation of labour laws is a global challenge, including in Australia,” added the spokesperson.
“No country is perfect, and every country — hosts of major events or not — has its challenges.”
The Football Australia governing body urged the energy-rich Gulf state to take a softer stance on same-sex relationships. Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Qatar.
The Qatari committee did not mention LGBTQ rights, but the spokesperson said: “This World Cup has contributed to a legacy of progress, better practice, and improving lives — and it’s a legacy that will live long after the final ball is kicked.”
Captains from a number of leading European football nations — including England, France and Germany — will wear armbands with rainbow colours and the message “One Love” in an anti-discrimination campaign during the World Cup.
AUSTRALIAN ‘ARRESTED, INTERROGATED’ OVER ANTI-GAY QATAR PROTEST
Australian-born British activist Peter Tatchell claims he was arrested after staging a one-man protest against Qatar’s treatment of gay people.
The activist was pictured holding a placard supporting Qatari people, just 26 days before the start of the football World Cup.
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by up to three years in prison.
Qatar denied that Tatchell had been arrested and hit back at what it claimed were “baseless accusations”.
Tatchell stood for more than hour wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with “#Qatarantigay” and holding a placard that read Qatar arrests and subjects LGBTs to conversion.
Two uniformed police officers and three plain clothes officials arrived at the scene.
They folded up his placard and took photos of Tatchell’s passport and other papers, and those of a man accompanying him.
Police left after shaking hands with Tatchell, who remained on the pavement.
The activist said he was arrested for the demonstration but later freed.
“I’m now released and will be heading to the airport,” Tatchell said on Instagram.
“I was arrested and detained for 49 minutes and subjected to interrogation about where I was from and where I was going. I have now been released.
“This protest was to shine a light on the abusive human rights of Qatar.”
Speaking from Qatar before the protest, Tatchell said “there can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal regimen like Qatar.
“It is a homophobic, sexist and racist dictatorship.
“Qatar cannot be allowed to sportswash its reputation. It is using the World Cup to enhance its international image.
“I did this protest to shine a light on Qatar’s human rights abuses against LGBT+ people, women, migrant workers and liberal Qataris. I am supporting their brave battle against tyranny.”
Prior to the 2018 World Cup, Tatchell was detained in Moscow while staging a protest against the treatment of gay people in the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Human Rights Watch on Monday said security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused LGBT Qataris as recently as last month.
A Qatari official said in a statement that HRW’s allegations “contain information that is categorically and unequivocally false”.
In response to Tatchell’s protest, Qatar’s Government Communications Office said reports of his arrest are “completely false and without merit”.
QATAR SLAMS ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ WC CRITICISM
Qatar has been hit by an “unprecedented campaign” of criticism over preparations for the football World Cup, its ruler sheik Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said Tuesday, calling the attacks “defamation”.
“Since we won the honour of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has faced,” the emir said in a speech.
FIFA awarded the World Cup to Qatar in 2010 and it has since spent tens of billions of dollars on preparations.
But the energy-rich Gulf state has faced constant scrutiny over its treatment of foreign workers as well as LGBTQ and women’s rights.
“We initially dealt with the matter in good faith, and even considered that some criticism was positive and useful, helping us to develop aspects that need to be developed,” the emir told Qatar’s Legislative Council.
“But it soon became clear to us that the campaign continues, expands and includes defamation and double standards, until it reached an amount of ferocity that made many wonder, unfortunately, about the real reasons and motives behind this campaign,” he said.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said the Qatar World Cup, the first in an Arab nation, will be the “best ever”.
IRAN FACES FRESH CALLS FOR WORLD CUP REMOVAL
Iran should be booted from the World Cup and replaced by Ukraine, claims Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin.
The Middle Eastern country are set to kick off their campaign against Group B rivals England on November 21, before taking on Wales and the United States.
Palkin, however, is leading calls for them to be removed from the competition, after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused them of supplying drones to Russia.
A statement from Palkin read: “Shakhtar Football Club calls on Fifa and the entire international community to immediately ban Iran’s national team from playing at the World Cup for the country’s direct participation in terrorist attacks on Ukrainians.
“This will be a fair decision that should draw the attention of the whole world to a regimen that kills its best people and helps kill Ukrainians.
“The vacant place should be taken by the national team of Ukraine, which proved that it is worthy of participation in the mundial.
“With unequal conditions with other national teams during the play-offs, they played with their heart.
“This decision is historically and sportingly justified. I urge everyone to join the pressure on the football bureaucracy.
“It is enough to repeat the mistakes of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, hiding behind the empty thesis about the apolitically of sports.
“Facilitating the participation of terrorists in the World Cup is politics. It’s time to put an end to such a policy.”
Ukraine were beaten by Wales in their World Cup qualifying playoff earlier this year.
Zelensky, 44, revealed that seven Russian drones shot down in Ukraine were supplied by Iran.
He responded by stripping Iran’s ambassador to Ukraine of his accreditation.
Iran have also been accused of sending personnel to Crimea to assist with the deadly bombardment of Ukraine’s towns and cities with kamikaze drones.
Campaigners have also intensified calls to ban Iran after more than 200 protesters were killed in a crackdown by the country’s religious morality police.
Iran has been rocked by an uprising triggered when a student died in police custody after she was held for not wearing her headscarf correctly.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE SUN
QUESTIONS OVER SOUTHGATE’S 55-MAN WORLD CUP SQUAD
Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze and Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek are believed to be part of England’s provisional 55-man World Cup squad.
Nations had to submit a provisional squad to FIFA by October 21 of between 35 and 55 players, and England boss Gareth Southgate was preparing to use the maximum number, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper named the trio as likely inclusions in the squad, which must be trimmed to 26 players by November 14, six days before the tournament begins in Qatar.
It’s expected Southgate will take the opportunity to name injured players such as Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Chelsea star Reece James in his 55-man squad before making a final call on their fitness closer to the World Cup.
FIFA will not make the early team lists public and many nations have declined to publicly announce their expanded squads but in a further twist, The Daily Mail reports Southgate has not informed his players if they are in the squad or not.
The move leaves fringe players such as Leicester City Midfielder James Maddison in the dark.
England was drawn in Group B and will face Iran, the USA and Wales in its three group games. Wales is making its first World Cup appearance since 1958.
Cup nightmare: France star’s tears as injury threatens dream
The World Cup injury concerns continue to mount for Australia’s Group D rivals, and defending champions, France – with star defender Raphael Varane leaving the field in tears after suffering an injury overnight.
The key centre back limped off during Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, leaving the field in the second half after a World Cup injury scare.
The 29-year-old was a crucial member of France’s victorious squad in Russia four years ago and was expected to feature prominently for manager Didier Deschamps this time around.
Varane’s leg twisted awkwardly as he stretched in a failed attempt to intercept a pass towards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, leaving him crumpled in a heap on the pitch for several minutes.
He was eventually able to walk around the pitch unaided, but his angst at potentially missing the World Cup, which starts on November 20, was clear as he punched the corner flag in frustration.
“We have to wait 24 hours and then we will know what it is,” said Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag said.
The latest injury blow adds to a mounting crisis for France, who will face Australia in their opening fixture next month.
Their midfield could be potentially wiped out, with N’golo Kante facing four months out with a hamstring injury, while fellow 2018 midfield star Paul Pogba is also expected to be unavailable as he battles a variety of injury complaints.
Deschamps will be sweating on the Varane injury news as squad depth – and quality of depth – is always crucial in a condensed World Cup format.
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