JAKARTA - The hero who led France to win the World Cup, Zinedine Zidane, said it was time to "forget controversy and focus on football" in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Zidane's call comes amid calls to boycott the tournament on the grounds of human rights records in the Gulf nation and their treatment of migrant workers.
"I hope France gets a great tournament, but I don't know if I can go to Qatar yet," the 50-year-old former Real Madrid coach said while attending the opening of his candle statue at Musee Grevin in Paris.
When asked about the World Cup which will start on November 20 later after more than a decade of controversy since Qatar was appointed to host the tournament, Zidane said the focus now should be on the sport "demic of all fans who only want to watch football".
"However, it doesn't matter what we say, everything will never be enough, or right or right to convey," added Zidane, accompanied by his parents, wife and children.
Zidane, who led France to win the 1998 World Cup in his own country, was the ambassador to Qatar's success in holding this tournament.
When Qatar was appointed to host the World Cup by FIFA in 2010, Zidane said he was "very happy" to hear the decision.
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