FIFA President Gianni Infantino hits out at Qatar World Cup critics (video)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino launched an expletive tirade against Western critics of the World Cup in Qatar on the eve of the tournament, in which he accused the West of moral hypocrisy.

In what was supposed to be a 45-minute Q&A with the media in Doha ahead of Sunday’s opener, Infantino delivered a rambling monologue that lasted nearly an hour in which he firmly defended Qatar’s migrant worker policy and labeled those who said there were “fake paid fans”. ‘ in Qatar as racist.

This tournament will be a historic event, the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, with controversy surrounding the rise of human rights, the death of migrant workers, LGBTQ and women’s rights .

At the press conference, Infantino looked exhausted as he tried to defend FIFA’s decision in 2010 to award the World Cup to Qatar. A controversial decision taken when he was not president of the governing body.

“We are taught many lessons from the Europeans, from the Western world,” he said, referring to criticism of Qatar’s human rights record.

“What we Europeans have been doing for 3,000 years, we should apologize for for the next 3,000 years before we start giving moral lessons.”

Infantino, an Italian, said he knew what it was like to be discriminated against, saying he had been bullied as a child for having red hair and freckles.

“Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. I feel like a migrant worker,” he declared to a dumbfounded audience.

“I feel that, all that, because what I saw and what I was told, since I don’t read, otherwise I would be depressed I think.

“What I saw brings me back to my personal story. I am a son of migrant workers. My parents worked very, very hard in difficult situations.

Infantino said progress had been made in Qatar on a range of issues but insisted real change took time, adding that FIFA would not leave the country after the tournament was over.

“We need to invest in education, to give them a better future, to give them hope. We should all educate ourselves,” he said.

“Reform and change take time. It took hundreds of years in our European countries. It takes time everywhere, the only way to get results is to commit […] not shouting.

In a FIFA statement released on Friday, the governing body said alcohol would be sold at fan zones and licensed venues.

The Muslim country is considered very conservative and strictly prohibits the sale of alcohol

“Let me first assure you that every decision taken at this World Cup is a joint decision between Qatar and FIFA,” he said. “Every decision is discussed, debated and taken together.”

“There will be […] more than 200 alcohol outlets in Qatar and more than 10 fan zones, where more than 100,000 people can simultaneously drink alcohol.

“I personally think that if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive.”

“Especially because in fact the same rules apply in France or Spain or Portugal or Scotland, where beer is no longer allowed in stadiums anymore,” he added.

“It seems to become a big thing because it’s a Muslim country, or I don’t know why.”

Homosexuality in Qatar is illegal and punishable by three years in prison, but the FIFA president has promised that this is a tournament for everyone.

“Let me also mention the LGBT situation. I have spoken about this subject with the most senior leaders of the country several times, not only once. They confirmed, and I can confirm, everyone is welcome,” Infantino said.

“It is a clear requirement of FIFA. Everyone must be welcome, everyone who comes to Qatar is welcome regardless of their religion, race, sexual orientation, beliefs. Everyone is the This was our demand and the Qatari state is sticking to this demand,” Infantino said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the West was unable to “learn moral lessons” in Qatar, adding that European nations should instead apologize for their own history.

Learn more here? https://t.co/k4QvT4osug

? REUTERS/Matthew Childs pic.twitter.com/XNiiaifc77

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 19, 2022