[ad_1]
Qatar World Cup 2022: Eric Cantona says ‘it is solely about cash’
Rayhan Uddin
Thu, 01/13/2022 – 12:19
French soccer legend Eric Cantona has launched a scathing assault on Qatar internet hosting the 2022 World Cup, criticising the therapy of staff and describing the event as “solely about cash”.
“I do not actually care in regards to the subsequent World Cup, which isn’t an actual World Cup for me,” the previous Manchester United star informed the Each day Mail on Wednesday.
Learn Extra »
“Within the final many years, you had loads of occasions just like the Olympic Video games or World Cups in international locations which are rising – like in Russia or China.
“However Qatar – it is not the nation of soccer. I am not towards the thought of internet hosting a World Cup in a rustic the place there’s a chance to develop and promote soccer, like in South Africa or america within the 90s.”
Cantona mentioned that the recognition of ladies’s soccer and the presence of Latin American communities had led to the event of soccer within the US.
“However in Qatar, the reality is that there isn’t a such potential. There may be nothing. It is solely about cash I feel.
“It is solely about cash and the best way they handled the individuals who constructed the stadiums, it is horrible. And 1000’s of individuals died. And but we’ll rejoice this World Cup.”
The 55-year-old was probably referring to a report within the Guardian final yr, which acknowledged that 6,500 South Asian migrant staff had died in Qatar because it had gained the precise to host the World Cup.
The report has been topic to criticism, with the Guardian accused of “clickbait” and “wrongly implying” that the deaths of migrants had been related to the World Cup. Lower than 1 p.c of the deaths have been confirmed to be related with stadium building.
‘I can’t watch it’
Cantona is considered one of many biggest English Premier League strikers, successful seven league titles in his remaining eight seasons as knowledgeable footballer. He additionally performed on 45 events for the French nationwide group, scoring 20 targets within the course of.
“Personally, I can’t watch [the World Cup in Qatar]. I perceive soccer is a enterprise. However I believed it was the one place the place all people might have an opportunity,” he mentioned.
He added that the majority footballers got here from poor backgrounds, and soccer was a “meritocracy” that gave them an opportunity to “save themselves and save their household”.
Learn Extra »
“If meritocracy and potential is the essence of soccer, it is much more shocking that we are able to organise a World Cup in Qatar, and other people truly voted for that.”
Cantona’s feedback acquired a blended response on social media. Whereas some agreed along with his sentiments, a number of customers accused him of double requirements for failing to name out earlier hosts.
“Just like the Brazilian World Cup wasn’t additionally constructed off the again to low cost labour?” one consumer tweeted.
“As if we did not watch a World Cup in Russia, a rustic run by probably the most corrupt governments on the planet ? Such double requirements.”
“So, when the World Cup was held in america and Russia, did he condemn or deliver up their human rights violations, or is it all the time selective?” one other consumer asked.
Final month, Center East Eye travelled to Doha to report on Qatar’s preparations for the event.
MEE discovered that enormous swaths of the capital remained below building, with migrant labourers working onerous to satisfy fast-approaching deadlines.
Overseas staff painted a blended image of life in Qatar. Some mentioned that labour reforms enacted by the federal government, reminiscent of lowering the variety of working hours throughout summer time months, had benefited them.
Nonetheless, a number of staff mentioned they had been nonetheless dealing with exploitation from employers, and had been afraid to utilise the complaints programs by means of concern of impacting their visa standing.
[ad_2]
Source link