Qatar’s organization of the 2022 World Cup is far from unanimous. Although the sporting event arouses much criticism on the issue of respect for human rights in the Gulf country, the BBC has decided to express its reservations about this tournament.
Very strong action, the BBC chose on Sunday not to broadcast on its antenna the opening ceremony of the World Cup, an event widely followed on television.
If the program of about thirty minutes is supposed to be placed under the motto of “respect and inclusion”, according to a document sent by the organizers, this obviously does not convince the English channel.
By choice, the ceremony is only broadcast on the BBC website. The channel declined to comment on this decision, reports The Guardian.
Reports and debates on set
The BBC does not despise the World Cup, but chooses to opt for critical coverage of the event evoking its controversies.
The former England international, Gary Lineker, opens the competition with a monologue in front of the camera in which he does not hesitate to mention the “corruption accusations” surrounding the awarding of the world championship to Qatar, immigrant workers “many of whom lost their lives” building the stadiums and “illegal” homosexuality in the country.
“‘Stay in football,’ FIFA said. We will, at least for a few minutes,” Gary Lineker says into the camera.
On set, several former players turned sports advisers discuss their reservations about awarding the World Cup to Qatar.
“I think when FIFA awarded the tournament to Qatar they did so without any consideration for human rights and workers’ rights,” said former Wales international Ashley Williams.
A report dedicated to the environmental impact of the World Cup and human rights in Qatar is also broadcast.
A journalist and former player with the “One Love” bracelet
Former England international, now a BBC consultant, Alex Scott speaks later inside the stadium with the “One Love” bracelet, a symbol of anti-discrimination, clearly visible on his arm. A symbolic gesture in a country where homosexuality is considered a crime.
This very armband is currently the subject of much debate, with England captain Harry Kane once expressing a desire to wear it. He finally had to give him up at the last minute, like the other seven teams that wanted to take him, being threatened with sporting sanctions by FIFA.
The former player with 140 selections for England does not hesitate to scratch on the set the words of Fifa president Gianni Infantino who had assured that he felt solidarity with migrant workers.
“You will never know what it is to be a migrant worker. To continually repeat that football belongs to everyone is not true,” he said.
Source: BFM TV
