Qatar, Host Of The Controversial 2022 World Cup

JAKARTA - Football fans were stunned when the FIFA World Football Association awarded Qatar the 2022 World Cup on December 2, 2010. Yes, the oil nation in the Middle East with a population of less than 1.4 million was allowed to host the football World Cup.

The exact reason for choosing Qatar over favorites like Australia, Japan and the United States, which are also competing, has never been revealed. However, it has since been proven that some FIFA bosses were promised sums of money in exchange for their votes. As a result of the scandal, they have been punished.

This does not include the astronomical budget of more than 150 billion euros that the Qatari government is prepared to invest in stadiums and in upgrading new airports, roads, accommodation and metro lines. Therefore many can say the tournament has been bought.

Since being selected to host the 2022 World Cup 12 years ago, Qatar has faced criticism over the country's treatment of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, as well as their record on women's rights and labor issues.

In 2020, a report from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) said one source indicated the death penalty could potentially be used as a punishment for consensual homosexual sex in Qatar.

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Chief Executive Nasser al-Khater, in 2019 said, "every fan of any gender, sexual orientation, religion and race, must be sure that Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world, and they will all be welcome." in that country.

However, he stressed that public displays of affection are frowned upon, it's not part of their culture, and that it applies to everyone. The last World Cup was held in Russia, where outlandish activism is severely restricted under the 2013 gay propaganda law. which prohibits the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations to minors.

Despite soccer's immense worldwide popularity, few male footballers have ever admitted to being gay, most of them admitting after retiring to avoid possible ridicule from the upper classes.

The first professional to confess while still playing was England's Justin Fashanu in 1990, but he was never accepted into football and hanged himself in 1998.

Meanwhile, Australian footballer Josh Cavallo, who admitted to being gay last month, expressed his fear of playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the country's criminalization of homosexuality.

The 21-year-old, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia's A-League, is the only known gay footballer to play in the top men's league.

His October 2021 announcement received praise from around the world, including from legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

However, the midfielder, who has played for Australia at Under-20 level but has not been called up to the senior squad, indicated he was unsure what he would do if selected to play in the 2022 World Cup.

"I read something that said they gave the death penalty to gay people in Qatar, so that's something I was really scared of and didn't want to go to Qatar for," Cavallo told the Guardian's Today in Focus podcast. AFP.

"And that makes me sad. In the end, the World Cup being held in Qatar and one of the greatest achievements as a professional footballer is playing for your country. Knowing that this is a country that doesn't support gays, people will put us at risk of our own lives. , it scares me, and makes me reevaluate whether my life is more important than doing something really good in my career?” Cavallo said.

The Qatari government admits its labor system still needs to be reformed, but denies allegations of exploitation of thousands of migrant workers in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, Amnesty International reports.

A statement by Qatar's Government Communications Agency on November 16 refuted Amnesty International's claims that labor reform in the country has not brought about significant change for thousands of migrant workers in the Middle Eastern country.

"Amnesty failed to document a single story among the 242,870 workers who have been able to change jobs since the restrictions were lifted in September 2020 or regarding the benefits to the more than 400,000 workers who are now receiving new drinking wages based on salary increases and other financial incentives," the statement said. quoted by Reuters.

"Qatar has never shied away from the fact that our workforce system still needs to be reformed.

"The government is committed to active and constructive collaboration with international partners and critical groups to continuously raise the bar for migrant workers in Qatar," the statement said.

Previously, Amnesty International published a 48-page report entitled Reality Check 2021 which stated that in the midst of preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar there were still practices of deferral of wages and levies on workers who wanted to change jobs, despite labor reforms in 2014.

"The apparent complacency of the authorities puts thousands of workers at continued risk of exploitation by unscrupulous employers, with many unable to change jobs and facing wage theft," said Mark Dummett, director of Amnesty International's global issues program. little hope for recovery, compensation or justice. After the World Cup, the fate of the workers living in Qatar will be even more uncertain."

The issue of migrant workers in Qatar had sparked calls for a boycott of the 2022 World Cup.

However, football players such as the Dutch national team stated that giving direct attention when competing in Qatar would have a bigger impact than a boycott.

The wives and spouses (WAGs) of England players have devised a plan to escape the Qatari government's strict ban on alcohol consumption. They chose to rent a luxury yacht (yacht) so they can still party and enjoy alcohol while accompanying their partner to appear at the 2022 World Cup.

The England national team is one of the countries that have confirmed themselves to appear in the Qatar 2022 World Cup on November 21-18 December. Preparations for Qatar began to be prepared by the Three Lions squad, including the matter of lodging. According to the Daily Star, while in Qatar, the players will reportedly stay at the Souq Al-Wakra hotel, which is equipped with a private beach, but is a place where alcohol is prohibited. As a Muslim country, Qatar is quite strict in dealing with alcohol consumption.

In this country, alcohol is prohibited from being consumed in public places. Consumption of alcohol can only be done in special places of certain hotels. That rule seems acceptable to Harry Kane et al.

But for WAGs, the rules are quite torturous. So, instead of staying in a hotel with strict restrictions, they choose to rent a luxury yacht. Later, the cruise ship will dock at a port near Doha City during use.

Previously, FIFA had offered the family or partner of the national team players to come and support directly. A number of accommodations have also been prepared ranging from vehicles to hotels and apartments.

However, Kane's wife Katie Goodland, wife Jordan Henderson, Rebecca Burnett and Paige Milian who is Raheem Sterling's fiancé said they would prefer to be on a cruise. It was chosen not only for reasons of the availability of unrestricted alcohol on board but also because the standard of accommodation is higher than the alternatives offered.