With the World Cup officially underway, the most popular game in the international globe is set for the biggest stage. 32 teams that had to go through meticulous qualifying in their respective continents will finally be able to show off their skills. However, the soccer tournament will be marred with controversies that won’t be easily overlooked.
According to NPR News, over a million fans will be eager to attend the events. However, many supporters of soccer and even some players have showed their criticism of Qatar’s frugal spendings to host the World Cup. Having won the bid in 2010, some believe that FIFA was bribed by Qatar to win their bid. What’s more interesting is that the FIFA commissioner who allowed Qatar to host was forced to step down in 2015 due to bribery charges. An accusation of bribery does not seem incredibly far fetched. In fact, the former head has since denounced his own selection many years later.
Another controversy is the fact that Qatar used several migrant workers to quickly build several stadiums inside of the nation, leading to the deaths of thousands of workers who were bound by their visas. The huge estimation of the loss of life has been furiously denied by both Qatar and FIFA, but not many believe their totals.
Along with the working conditions, players and fans alike have lost some of their freedoms as well, including drinking alcohol and more liberal rights that are looked down upon in the conservative Qatar as well as the Islamic region.
In the end, the World Cup must be showcased for the sport and for the star players. Never before have such interesting scandals popped up before a soccer ball has been kicked for the opening match.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2022/11/18/1137204271/qatar-world-cup-controversies
Image Credits: Sky Sports
