DOHA (Reuters) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino insisted that “all are welcome in Qatar” on Sunday as a digital countdown clock went on show in Doha to mark one yr till the opening of the controversial 2022 soccer World Cup, the primary to be held within the Center East.
The opening match will happen subsequent Nov. 21 within the 60,000 capability Al Bayt Stadium.
The top of soccer’s world governing physique urged LGBTQ soccer followers and all others to attend the event and “have interaction and converse and persuade” in a bid to affect the Gulf Arab state’s insurance policies.
“We can’t suppose that if we keep house and simply criticize issues will change. Issues have improved. Issues will proceed to enhance,” he stated.
On the occasion on Sunday evening, soccer stars like David Beckham and Samuel Eto’o watched a drone show from a jetty in Doha’s West Bay as organisers promised a “spectacular” event.
However on the sidelines officers have been on the defensive about key points which have dogged the event for years like Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ legal guidelines, the welfare of migrant employees and allegations of corruption.
Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the 2022 World Cup, defended the nation’s document in a digital roundtable with reporters Saturday evening.
“Qatar has been unfairly handled and scrutinized I feel, unfairly handled for quite a few years,” Al Khater stated.
He denied allegations by the U.S. Division of Justice that bribes had been paid to safe votes when Qatar was awarded the internet hosting rights in 2010.
He additionally defended the nation’s progress on human rights, pointing to latest labour reforms, however cautioning that there’s extra work to do.
Amnesty Worldwide just lately stated these labour reforms haven’t improved employees’ lives and that practices like withholding salaries and charging employees to vary jobs have been nonetheless commonplace. Qatar’s authorities rejected Amnesty’s findings.
On Friday, the Worldwide Labour Organisation stated Qatar was inadequately investigating and reporting the deaths of employees within the nation.
(Reporting by Andrew Mills; Enhancing by Hugh Lawson)
