FIFA's Infantino accuses World Cup critics of 'hypocrisy'
FIFA president Gianni Infantino hit back at criticism of Qatar's human rights record on Saturday, blasting the "hypocrisy" of Western critics on the eve of the World Cup kick-off.
Infantino, speaking at his opening press conference of the tournament in Doha, also expressed support for the LGBTQ community and migrant workers.
"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 apologize for the next 3,000 years before starting giving moral lessons to people."
The build-up to the tournament in the Gulf state has been dominated by concerns over Qatar's treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community.
Infantino expressed his support for those 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.
Qatar officials say their country has been the target of "racism" and "double standards". They point to the reforms on working conditions and safety that have been hailed as groundbreaking in the Gulf region.
The World Cup kicks off on Sunday when host nation Qatar take on Ecuador in the opening match.
19 November 2022, 11:42
00
Perhaps he should tell us just how much he received in order to have his vote in favour of Qatar getting the World Cup.
He should also perhaps inform us as to what he received in order to allow Qatar to break the contract signed over 10 years ago, especially regarding alcohol. I would not have objected if the Qataris had made their position clear at the time, but to do this just 2 days before the start is a cheap underhanded slap in the face to all the supporters who have booked their visits to the country.
19 November 2022, 17:33
00
FIFA & UEFA are corrupt to the core. The two have single handidly ruined football as we know it. Every tournament they add teams expand this expand that, all at the expense of filling their coffers with $$$$ and Euros to the tune of billions and lining their pockets. They are bunch of unelected bureacrats.
Qatar should never have ever received the bid to host the world cup. Everyone knows it was all money and bribes that swayed the vote.
