Controversies surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

The biggest stage in soccer is approaching after the customary four-year wait. The 2022 World Cup is already shaping up to be one of the most contentious sporting events before Sunday’s opening match.

 The World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar, and although excitement is intense, the path to the field has been rather tricky. The first Middle Eastern World Cup has been dogged by controversy due to Qatar’s initial candidacy for the tournament, how employees were treated while building the stadiums, the social atmosphere there, and a lack of clear international initiatives.

 The bid

 Prior to securing the bid in 2010, Qatar has no prior experience competing in the World Cup. It has never been an attractive location for such a large event due to its scorching desert climate and harsh summers. Many soccer fans also questioned Sepp Blatter’s tenure as the former FIFA president as to how the tiny Middle-Eastern nation secured the bid.

 At the highest levels of government, there were claims of corruption, vote-swapping, and connections to trade agreements. FIFA exonerated Qatar of wrongdoing, but as recently as 2020, US prosecutors charged three former senior FIFA officials with accepting payments in exchange for casting a vote in Qatar’s favor.

 Although there has never been any evidence of misconduct, many observers have questioned the validity of the election due to its peculiar results.

 The treatment of workers

 In 2014, stadium building got underway. Since then, there have been 37 additional off-site deaths in addition to three “work-related deaths” on actual stadium construction sites. According to Qatari officials, the figure is proportionate to the size of the provided foreign labor. Human rights advocates assert that there are a great number more mysterious fatalities.

 The main problem has been the quality of living. The “appalling living circumstances” for workers were condemned by Amnesty International, which claimed they were on the verge of “modern slavery.” According to the organisation, migrant labourers from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal were sometimes deceived about their pay and other working conditions, such as their freedom to leave the work camp or stadium.

 Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Adidas, and AB InBev all released statements in response to the situation endorsing immigration reforms and Qatari worker compensation. All have continued to support the competition, nevertheless, as sponsors.

Attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people

 Another ethical issue is the discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons in Qatar, a country where homosexuality is against the law and carries a prison sentence. The only openly gay top-flight men’s football player in the world, Josh Cavallo of Adelaide United, has expressed concern about visiting Qatar, and many LGBTQ+ supporters worry about receiving a hostile response. James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, depressingly advised LGBT World Cup attendees to “be courteous” and exhibit “flex and compromise.” The FA has promised gay English supporters that they won’t be detained for making out in public (yep, what a grim sentence). But in the end, it’s not just visiting fans that suffer; LGBTQ+ Qataris also encounter prejudice year-round. Tournament organizers will use football’s unmatched PR power and spectacular architecture to deceive spectators. But once everyone has left, LGBT Qataris will still face hardships.

It’s in a desert

 Having a regular summer World Cup in the desert is impossible when the temperature is over 40°C. Both tournament traditionalists and casual spectators used to sweltering hot World Cups typified by beer-soaked midsummer celebration have taken offense at the decision to move the competition to January. Most football fans will surely still tune in, but isn’t it the charm of international matches that non-football fans may take in a national mix of naiveté, camaraderie, and excessive drinking? It may be argued that the UK needs this cheery diversion more than ever.

The match-going experience? Hell on earth

 The stereotype of English football supporters is that they are boisterous, topless, and beer drinkers. But in Qatar, they’ll find it difficult to match this reputation. Only the bars and restaurants of Doha’s four and five-star, unavoidably crowded hotels will serve alcohol. Even if you make it to the bar, an average pint will cost you between £12 and £15. In fact, Qatar topped the list of countries where beer is most costly to purchase in 2021. A concerning amount of building hasn’t yet been finished, according to recent pictures of the out-of-town cabins being utilized as fan lodging. Another problem is that the tournament’s broadcasting rights cost so high that many restaurants, hotels, and cafés cannot afford the costs associated with airing games; some team hotels won’t even be displaying live matches! The most boring location I’ve ever been in my life, according to The Athletic’s Tom Williams, who previously discussed the possibility of a carnival atmosphere in Doha. Great.

What happens when it’s over?

World Cups are known for their short joy and lasting waste. Many stadiums built with taxpayer money fell into disrepair after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Don’t be shocked if it also occurs in Qatar. To be fair to the organizers, they will demolish numerous brand-new stadiums and distribute pieces of the stands to neighbouring countries rather than risk the grounds collapsing. Thus, it begs the issue of why FIFA did not grant hosting rights to a nation in Western Asia or North Africa that already had a robust local league system and football-related infrastructure. The host country’s bank account likely holds the key to that question.

 It’s unbelievable that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup in light of all this. The argument that football fans in Qatar should be able to watch the World Cup in their nation is valid, but for many, it just isn’t good enough. It’s essential to create a balance between promoting football worldwide and selling it to the highest bidder without consideration for match attendance or violations of human rights. Whatever transpires this winter, and regardless of how hard celebrities like David Beckham try to gloss over reality with shady public relations gimmicks, the World Cup in Qatar will leave a terrible legacy that football fans won’t soon forget.