FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a press conference in Doha ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Infantino responded to criticism about the organization of the World Cup in Qatar and reacted against the Western countries which are the center of this criticism.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a press conference in the capital Doha before the 2022 World Cup to be hosted by Qatar between November 20 and December 18.
Infantino responded to criticism about the organization of the World Cup in Qatar and reacted against the European countries that are the center of bad propaganda against the organization and Qatar.
Gianni Infantino said the following at the press conference in Doha:
Today I have different and strong feelings. Today I feel like a Qatari, today I feel like an Arab, today I feel like an African, today I feel like a homosexual, today I feel like a disabled person, today I feel like a migrant worker. Of course I am not Qatari, Arab, African, homosexual or disabled, but I feel that way because I know what it means to live as a foreigner in a foreign country, to be bullied and discriminated against.
“I WAS BULLIED AS A CHILD TOO”
I was bullied as a child because I had red hair and freckles. In addition to that, I was Italian. What do you do when you are bullied? You try to make contact with people around you and try to find friends. You don’t start blaming people, fighting, insulting people.
I find it hard to understand the criticism of holding the World Cup in Qatar. We need to invest in better education to give these people hope for the future. We all need to educate ourselves. Nothing is perfect but reform and change takes time.
“EUROPE’S CRITICISM IS HYPOCRITICAL! WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR 3 THOUSAND YEARS…”
Europe’s criticism of Qatar is hypocritical. I am a European myself. Europe should apologize for the next 3,000 years for what it has been doing for 3,000 years before it lectures anyone on ethics and morality.
If Europe really cares about the fate of migrant people, it can legally take them in, as Qatar has done. Let these people come to your countries to work and produce. I find one-sided criticism hypocritical.
“YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT DRINKING BEER FOR THREE HOURS”
Different leagues in Europe also ban the sale of alcohol during matches. For those coming to Qatar for the World Cup, you can live without beer for three hours. France also has this ban, but because Qatar is a Muslim country, it is seen as a problem.
I don’t have to defend Qatar, they can defend themselves. I am defending football. It is not easy to criticize a decision made 12 years ago. Qatar is ready for the World Cup. It will be the best World Cup in history.
