I’m guessing many millions of Canadians had never heard of Qatar before now. But the small Persian Gulf state has changed all that, by hosting one of the ...
"Qatar wants to increase its international footprint, particularly in the Middle East," writes Henry Srebrnik. "For example, it funds the influential Al Jazeera television network, founded in 1996, which broadcasts worldwide. The bid to host the World Cup was another step in this quest, one component of a much broader strategy intending to position Qatar as a significant regional actor." - ReutersI’m guessing many millions of Canadians had never heard of Qatar before now.
A soccer non-entity, Qatar also became only the second country to be awarded a FIFA World Cup despite having never even qualified for a previous one. It’s as if Canada were to host a world cricket match. But hundreds of the world’s finest soccer players and more than a million fans are now in the capital for the tournament.
But Qatar’s position as the tournament host has not been without controversy. Reports by investigative journalists have linked the FIFA leadership with corruption, bribery, and vote-rigging. Multiple FIFA board members are alleged to have accepted bribes to swing the vote to Qatar. The country in effect “bought” the 2022 tournament.
Qatar relies on low-income workers from South Asia and Africa, who often work gruelling hours for meagre pay and sometimes face outright abuse. They are described, with only slight exaggeration, as slave labour. They are often banned from entering the malls where Qatari citizens purchase luxury goods and eat at Western food outlets. Salaries depend on where you come from and which passport you hold.
Qatar World Cup 2022 secretary general Hassan Al-Thawadi has disputed these figures. Asked if the 2022 tournament was “sportswashing,” he maintained that it “could not be further from the truth.” Qatari officials have bristled at much of the criticism, arguing that the country is being unfairly singled out in a manner that suggests an undercurrent of racism.
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