Qatar World Cup: Fifa's Infantino blasts Western 'hypocrisy'
FIFA president Gianni Infantino blasted the "hypocrisy" of Western critics of Qatar's human rights record on Saturday, making a passionate defence of the World Cup in the Gulf state on the eve of the kick-off.
The build-up to the tournament has been dominated by concerns over Qatar's treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community, to the visible annoyance of organisers.
Qatar officials say their country has been the target of "racism" and "double standards" and they point to the reforms on working conditions and safety that have been hailed as groundbreaking in the region.
Football itself again took a back seat on Saturday, with the focus firmly on off-field politics just 24 hours before hosts Qatar were due open the tournament against Ecuador.
Infantino, speaking at his opening press conference of the tournament in Doha, had harsh words for critics of Qatar.
"This moral lesson-giving -- one-sided -- is just hypocrisy," said the Swiss.
"I don't want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust."
He added: "For what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should apologise for the next 3,000 years before starting giving moral lessons to people."
Infantino also expressed his support for marginalised communities.
"Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel a migrant worker," he said.
Another issue that has dominated the build-up to the tournament is the sale of beer in the Islamic state, which severely restricts alcohol consumption.
Organisers on Friday performed a dramatic U-turn, banning beer sales around stadiums just 48 hours before kickoff.
World governing body FIFA gave no reason for the surprise decision but media reports said there had been an intervention by Qatar's ruling family.
Dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up at grounds ahead of the first game.
Infantino made light of the ruling on the last-minute change on Saturday.
"I think personally if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive," he said. "The same applies in France, Spain, Scotland."
Cristiano Ronaldo jetted into Qatar late on Friday, desperate to focus on football after an explosive tirade against his club, Manchester United.
The Portugal forward, who has dominated global football for the past 15 years alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi, will be playing in his fifth and likely final World Cup.
The 37-year-old, who has a world-record 117 international goals, is aiming to become the first man to score in five World Cups.
Ronaldo appears to be headed for the exit door at Old Trafford but earlier this week pledged "total and absolute focus on the work of the national team" in a social media post.
Almost all of the football's heavyweight teams have now arrived in Qatar, with the notable exception of five-time winners Brazil, who are due to land late on Saturday.
Write us off at your peril: Croatia
Croatia say they thrive on being considered underdogs and warned on Saturday that they have what it takes to reach the World Cup final again.
Led by inspirational captain Luka Modric, unfancied Croatia reached the final four years ago in Russia before losing 4-2 to France.
Few are predicting an ageing squad will do as well in Qatar in the coming weeks -- and that is just the way the players like it.
"We don't put any extra pressure on ourselves and we don't really care about these predictions," said striker Bruno Petkovic.
"We don't listen to that or read that. We just need to take it step by step, we have our own goal and we are focused on that.
"At the end, we will see who was right in their predictions."
Fellow forward Marko Livaja was similarly bullish, adding: "I think we have a really good chance to repeat something similar to what we did in Russia."
Croatia begin their Qatar campaign on Wednesday against Morocco in a Group F, which also contains Canada and Belgium.
Along with Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England, Germany and holders France, the Belgians are one of the sides expected to go far at this World Cup.
(责任编辑:关于我们)
- 7 Reasons to Explore Boston’s Lesser
- 提高酒后驾驶的“违法成本”
- Trump says he exchanged 'very friendly' letters with Kim
- Cost Per Frame: Best Value Graphics Cards Right Now
- 21 Unexpected Wonders in Colorado’s Vibrant Cities and Small Towns
- Students get free entry at second Rawalpindi Test but what’s the catch?
- Like Apple's HomePod, Sonos One and Amazon Echo Dot also leave marks
- Kylie Jenner celebrates 21st birthday by flipping the bird to her Instagram followers
- Seoul to send 50,000 tons of rice to Pyongyang
- Aricell CEO arrested in first case under industrial accidents law
- Hamilton feels he can fight for wins again
- Jabeur, Thiem crash at French Open
- Minister calls for 3rd US
-
NASA says Earth just had the hottest day ever recorded
In the 1800s, pioneering scientists foresaw how carbon in the air could warm Earth. By 1938, English ...[详细] -
Zverev says Nadal plays '30% better' at Roland Garros
PARIS:Alexander Zverev believes Rafael Nadal plays "30% better" at Roland Garros as he bac ...[详细] -
Detroit quickly reverses ban on Airbnb after backlash
That was fast. Airbnb rentals in Detroit were banned this week in certain neighborhoods after change ...[详细] -
Rep. Park Ji-won Korea Times fileBy Park Si-soo Opposition heavyweight Rep. Park Ji-won has invited ...[详细]
-
Input devices like keyboards have a key role in the computing and gaming landscape, so the guts of t ...[详细]
-
US and 25 nations accuse North Korea of violating sanctions
A handout photo taken on June 4, and released by Koryo Tours shows an image of North Korean leader K ...[详细] -
Hertha Berlin keep Bundesliga status
BERLIN:Hertha Berlin secured their place in the Bundesliga for next season with a 2-0 away win at Ha ...[详细] -
Pyongyang, Beijing agree on deepening relations
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, greet the crowd befor ...[详细] -
“至正七年置”青花纪年铭文盖罐1939年,梁思成考察测绘高颐阙 资料图片成都矛石羊上石兽一座古老城市的背后往往是一篇绵延的历史长诗,人类开始学会直立行走,同其他类人猿逐渐划分开伊始,部落、城邦在漫长的 ...[详细]
-
Ryan Leslie's SuperPhone wants to track your relationship health
Messaging can save your life. That's the motto of hip-hop artist-turned-entrepreneur Ryan Leslie. Th ...[详细]
- Against All Odds: How Netflix Made It
- Like Apple's HomePod, Sonos One and Amazon Echo Dot also leave marks
- 提高酒后驾驶的“违法成本”
- Samsung Galaxy S9 leaks in fancy new lilac purple color
- A Journey Into the Mind of Stephen King
- Snapchat's Olympics Stories are your best look at the 2018 Games
- Ambassador says Britain has strong interest in peninsula security