Embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Why?
Embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Why?
2022.11.19 08:57
Embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Why?
Budrigannews.com – FIFA President Gianni Infantino pushed back against criticism of the Qatar World Cup the day before the tournament began after years of planning.
Speaking after months of therapeutic concerns in the country of migrant workers, anger at its LGBTQ laws and doubts about the legitimacy of the decision to hold tournaments there, Infantino said:、
“Europe cannot give Qatar a moral lesson based on its own actions over 3,000 years,” he said Saturday. “Europe is a great hub of multicultural tolerance, but there are things that are not great.”
“They should look at themselves before criticizing,” he added.
On the eve of one of the most criticized World Cup ever, Infantino began a speech for almost an hour, saying: “Today I feel Qatar, today I feel Arab.” Today I feel Africa. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker.”
After the rules on alcohol sales at the event were last minute changed on Friday, other regulations governing the tournament are also likely to change. Infantino tried to reassure the LGBTQ community that they would be safe despite Qatar’s laws banning homosexuality.
“Homosexuals are welcome in Qatar,” he said. “We went through the process.”
World Cup without Beer
Infantino said the way migrant workers are treated has improved because of the involvement that has occurred as a result of the World Cup.
Infantino said there were many threats and challenges to the tournament, some of which had not been faced so far. One has so many stadiums within a relatively short distance of each other, it was a factor in the new rules of beer, he said.
“We need to make sure people can get in and out safely,” Infantino said. People can survive without drinking beer for 3 hours, he added, citing similar rules on alcohol in stadiums in Scotland and France.
The FIFA chief said the tournament was set to hit revenue from the Russia World Cup four years ago in terms of media rights, sponsorship and tickets.
“If so many people invest in the World Cup and Qatar, they will invest to believe in FIFA and trust Qatar,” Infantino said.
