Football legend David Beckham breaks silence amid $17 million World Cup scandal

Football legend David Beckham has delivered a powerful message to supporters amid claims his support of Qatar has ruined his reputation.

Former England football captain David Beckham. Photo by ROGER HARRIS / UK PARLIAMENT / AFP

England football legend David Beckham has delivered a message to supporters in Doha ahead of the FIFA World Cup, telling young locals that “today is your day to dream”.

The 47-year-old is one of the faces of the FIFA World Cup, working as an ambassador for the Arab nation in a deal estimated to be worth £10 million (AU$17.8 million).

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Qatar’s human rights record has come under increasing scrutiny as the World Cup draws closer with a Qatari ambassador recently calling homosexuality a “damage in the mind”.

Homosexuality in the Gulf state is illegal and is punishable by imprisonment.

Meanwhile, thousands of migrant workers reportedly died in the Qatari construction industry since the country was awarded the tournament in 2010.

On Saturday, video emerged of Beckham, who has copped backlash for accepting millions to be Qatar‘s ambassador, addressing locals in a prerecorded video at a youth festival in Doha.

“Today is your day to dream”
Video message from Qatar World Cup ambassador David Beckham played to guests at Supreme Cttee youth festival event here in Doha pic.twitter.com/0KA1eNS9JP

— Dan Roan (@danroan) November 17, 2022

“Every one of the great players I was lucky enough to play with, started in exactly the same way – in a back garden, park or a street outside their home with just a ball and an imagination that they dared to let run wild,” he said.

“Almost two decades ago a small group of football lovers from Qatar had an equally fantastic dream – that they could bring the greatest footballing show on earth to their home country and to the Middle East for the very first time.

“And now we are here. Because when dreams are harnessed and mixed with dedication and hard work, they are no longer dreams – they become reality.

“Today is your day to dream. Because there is no limits to what you and your teammates can achieve in our beautiful game.

“Dreams can come true. That’s why you’re here. You share Generation Amazing’s twin passions for the game of football, and for making the world a more tolerant and inclusive place.

“Over the course of the next week, with the help of our inspirational course leaders and our fellow ambassadors, you’ll learn how football skills and values can extend far beyond the pitch and into schools and the communities that you live in.

“And if you ever doubt that the festival’s ambitions are possible, remember, that it too began as a dream. Qatar dreamt of braining the world cup to a place it had never been before, but that it wouldn’t be enough just to achieve things on the pitch.

“The pitch would be a platform for progress.

“Even before this year’s festival kicks off, more than 1 million lives have been touched to create an inspirational global community of coaches, educators and new young leaders. It all began as a dream.

“That is now yours. So please be inspired and pass it on.”

David Beckham in Qatar. Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

Earlier this week, British comedian Joe Lycett called out Beckham on social media, questioning the “gay icon” for accepting money from Qatar.

“If you end your relationship with Qatar, I’ll donate this 10 grand of my own money as a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting, to charities that support queer people in football,” Lycett said in a video.

“However, if you do not, by midday next Sunday, I will throw this money into a shredder just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it live on a website.

“Not just the money, but also your status as a gay icon will be shredded, you’ll be forcing me to commit a crime.”

Lycett’s ultimatum to Beckham will end ahead of the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador on Monday morning at 3am AEDT.