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Tag: World cup

  • Qatar: 2.95m World Cup tickets already sold – FIFA

    Qatar: 2.95m World Cup tickets already sold – FIFA

     

    Nearly three million World Cup tickets have been sold, FIFA said Sunday, as the governing body’s president revealed the tournament had helped push revenues over the past four years to a record $7.5 billion.

    A FIFA spokesman told AFP that 2.95 million tickets had been sold up to Sunday’s opening day.

    The start of the World Cup has led to a surge of interest in the 64 matches over 29 days despite negative publicity over Qatar’s hosting.

    Queues have built up outside the FIFA ticket centre in Doha and fans report long waits to get onto the official online ticket platform.

    Qatar has already overtaken Russia 2018, when just over 2.4 million tickets were sold.

    The spokesman said Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Mexico, Britain, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, France, India and Brazil were the top markets.

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino told a conference earlier that the world body’s four-year revenues were estimated to hit $7.5 billion by the end of the year.

    Revenues are more than $1 billion higher than predicted four years ago.

    Infantino told the 211 member associations that the “amazing figures” came “in spite of Covid, in spite of different crises around the world”.

    Infantino is set to be re-elected unopposed at a congress in March after no rivals came forward in time to force an election.

    He said new rules regulating football agents would be announced this year.

    Infantino also said he wanted to see more games between national teams from different regions and a bigger Club World Cup. “We have some good ideas,” he added.

  • Qatar 2022: Valencia set World Cup record as Ecuador thrash host

    Qatar 2022: Valencia set World Cup record as Ecuador thrash host

    Enner Valencia scored a World Cup record-making goal on Sunday as his two first-half goals led Ecuador to a dominant 2-0 victory over host, Qatar in the opening game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

    The home nation froze on their big night with an error-strewn display that left them as the first World Cup hosts to lose their opening game.

    Valencia, who had already had a third-minute header ruled out by VAR for offside, slotted in the tournament’s opening goal from the penalty spot in the 16th minute after being brought down by nervous-looking goalkeeper, Saad Alsheeb.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) Valencia made the World Cup record with the penalty kick, being the first time in the history of the World Cup that the first goal of the tournament would be scored from the penalty spot.

    Valencia powered home a 31st-minute header for the second and the South Americans then cruised home as an outclassed Qatar struggled to mount any meaningful attack and had only a fluffed header by Almoez Ali to show for their limited efforts.

    The other teams in Group A, Senegal and the Netherlands, meet in one of three games on Monday.

    Qatar stage spectacular World Cup opening ceremony

    The defeat is coming for Qatar after the host’s Bedouin roots, embodied in a tent-shaped stadium, were on display on Sunday as the country’s emir opened the World Cup opening ceremony.

    At the spectacular ceremony, he kissed his father’s hand and welcomed the world to soccer’s biggest event, the first time it has been staged in the Middle East.

    “From Qatar, from the Arab world, I welcome everyone to the World Cup 2022. How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said.

    Then, fireworks exploded from the roof of Al Bayt stadium, 44 km (27 miles) north of the capital, Doha.

    Earlier, the nearly full stadium erupted in cheers when Sheikh Tamim arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president, Gianni Infantino.

    Tamim waved to the crowd and leaned down to kiss the hand of his father, former ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who abdicated in 2013, making way for his son.

    Then the lights dimmed and three camels, dancers and a Qatari singer called “Dana,” who wore a traditional batola, a leather face-covering worn by some women in the Gulf region, filed onto the pitch.

    American actor, Morgan Freeman, followed alongside Ghanim Al Muftah, a 20-year old Qatari man who was born with a rare condition that impairs the development of the lower spine.

    Freeman sat on the pitch beside Al Muftah.

    “How can so many countries, languages and cultures come together if only one way is accepted?” Freeman told the crowd.

    “When you call here, we welcome you into our home,” Al Muftah said, referencing the “bayt al sha’ar” or tent that nomadic bedouins of the Arabian peninsula once used for shelter, which inspired the stadium design.

    The ceremony featured video footage of Sheikh Tamim as a boy playing soccer in the desert, which seemed aimed at countering the argument made by Qatar’s critics that the Gulf Arab state has no soccer tradition.

    Singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS joined Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi to perform Dreamers, a new tournament song.

    The opening of the tournament was the culmination of 12 years of preparations that have transformed Qatar and have also exposed it to a barrage of criticism including over human rights.

    The Qatari royals sat alongside other Arab leaders who traveled to Qatar in a show of regional solidarity, including Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah.

    Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt had severed ties with Qatar from 2017 to January 2021 over accusations that Doha supported terrorism – a reference to Islamist groups. Doha denied the charges.

    UAE prime minister, Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, attended. No Bahraini leaders were present.

  • Criticism of Qatar “hypocritical” – Infantino

    Criticism of Qatar “hypocritical” – Infantino

    FIFA president Gianni Infantino has accused the Western countries of “hypocrisy” and slammed the criticism towards World Cup hosts Qatar during his opening speech ahead of the tournament on Saturday.

    “For what we Europeans have been doing around the world in the last 3,000 years we should be apologising for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people,” the head of the football governing body said.

    “How many of these European or Western business companies who earn millions from Qatar, billions, how many of them have addressed migrant workers’ rights with the authorities?

    “None of them, because if you change the legislation it means less profit. But we did, and FIFA generates much less than any of these companies from Qatar.”

    The FIFA president spoke for nearly an hour and made a defence of the tournament and Qatar.

    The country has been sharply criticised for its human rights conditions, the deaths of migrant workers and its treatment of LGBTQ people.

    Infantino opened his monologue saying: “Today I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel a migrant worker.”

    His statement was immediately criticised on social media.

    Many of the critics pointed out that if he was indeed gay, he would not be able to openly say that in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal under Islamic Sharia law.

    Ahead of the World Cup, former Qatar international Khalid Salman, one of several ambassadors of the tournament starting on Sunday, named being gay “damage in the mind”.

    Infantino has now assured that all queer people would be warmly welcome and safe in the country.

    “Everyone is welcome. This was our requirement and the Qatari state sticks to that requirement.”

    Asked about the multi-coloured One Love armband, which several team captains are planning to wear as a sign for equality, Infantino was vague.

    He did not say whether there would be fines.

    “We have regulations about the armbands. They are provided by FIFA,” Infantino said.

    He added that these regulations are based on universal campaigns and that “the field of play of the World Cup should really be about football and global causes.”

    Another topic that caused stir in the build-up to the tournament was the ban on alcoholic beer at World Cup stadiums and surrounding areas.

    This was confirmed just two days ahead of the opening ceremony.

    Alcohol is not prohibited in Qatar, but its sale is restricted to bars and restaurants in some hotels.

    Previously, there was reportedly an agreement to allow beer sales in areas between the security check and the ticket check at the venues.

    Beer company Budweiser is one of the major sponsors of the tournament.

    Infantino, however, dismissed suggestions that FIFA lost control of its own tournament following the ban.

    “Let me first assure you that every decision taken at this World Cup is a joint decision between Qatar and FIFA.”

    “There will be many fan zones where you can buy alcohol in Qatar and fans can simultaneously drink alcohol.

    “I think if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” he said.

  • Qatar bans sales and consumption of alcoholic content in stadia

    Qatar bans sales and consumption of alcoholic content in stadia

    The sale  and consumption of alcoholic content in and around stadia for Qatar World Cup have been banned by the organizers.

    This decision was taken by the Qatari authority after a last minute showdown talks with FIFA on Friday night.

    FIFA confirmed that sales of alcoholic beverages would be banned at the stadiums except for zero-alcohol beer, Bud Zero.

    World football governing body made the statement known on its official Twitter page on Friday.

    “Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters.

    “There is no impact to the sale of Bud Zero which will remain available at all Qatar’s World Cup stadiums.

    “Host country authorities and FIFA will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and pleasant experience for all fans.

    “The tournament organisers appreciate AB InBev’s understanding and continuous support to our joint commitment to cater for everyone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

    Players and fans can now buy and consume alcoholic content area immediately outside match venues and fan zones, as well as within hotels.

    Budweiser is one of FIFA’s biggest sponsors, but was told to relocate stalls selling its product at stadiums to less prominent locations.

    The FIFA World Cup in Qatar kick starts on the 20th of November, 2022 with opening match between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.

  • Qatar ’22 and a troubled world in search of leaders – By Owei Lakemfa

    Qatar ’22 and a troubled world in search of leaders – By Owei Lakemfa

    MOST of humanity began a work week on Monday, November 7. I watched hundreds of Congolese youths including ladies engaged in rowdy but seemingly joyous group dances, songs and banter.  There were also a sprinkling of soldiers amongst them. Good, you might say. Except that the gathering was not about celebrating life.

    While billions of youths across the world were either heading to school, work or some useful engagements, these youths of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC were offering enlistment to fight the M23 rebels who were approaching the city of Goma. These youths in a seemingly joyous mood were offering to go kill their fellow youths on the rebel side or be killed. It is all part of a senseless conflict with  an increasingly insane propensity to take or lose lives.

    In the last twenty six years when almost all these youths were either not born or were toddlers, over six million Congolese have lost their lives in conflicts. But this did not start in 1996. Thirty six years before then, Belgium, the United Kingdom, UK and the United States, US, had conspired to overthrow the three-month old government of Patrice Lumumba, the DRC founding Prime Minister. He was caught and executed on January 17, 1961 by a firing squad commanded by the Belgians.

    The DRC attracts conflicts like sugar attracts ants because it is one of the most naturally endowed countries in the world. The Belgain King Leopold II had massacred 15 million Congolese just to own the DRC as a “private estate.” A week after the ‘joyous’ scene in DRC, many of these youths and the rest of the population on the outskirts of Goma, were on the run. They were fleeing death as the M23, the proxies fighting for Rwanda, approached the city.

    If Goma falls to the rebels, it will not be the first time as M23, established in 2012 to ostensibly defend Congolese Tutsi  interests, had previously taken the city. It is a strong militia because it is trained and backed by Rwanda which is presided over by a  fellow Tutsi called Paul Kagame.

    Although Rwanda’s main produce is coffee and tea, but it has emerged a major exporter of gold and gems, not because it has them in abundance, but because they are looted from the DRC. The DRC had witnessed two ‘African Wars’ between 1996 and 2003 which pitched the armies of the DRC, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe against the invaders from  Rwanda and Uganda. The Congolese conflict goes on because it is considered a free territory to plunder.

    The Education Ministry in Mogadishu, Somalia is a symbol of the determination of Somalis to be educated for a future that is quite bleak. On October 29, 2022 two car bombs exploded outside the Ministry. Over 100 persons were killed and 300 injured. So conscienceless is the evil that struts that country.

    Five years earlier in the same month, a truck bomb had exploded, killing over 500 persons at the K5 intersection of Mogadishu. Death is so common in a country that the world seems to have forgotten.  Today, Somalia consists of a separatist state and a portion, purchased by the United Arab Emirate, UAE.

    Somalia was a bit unstable before the military overthrew its government on October 21, 1969. That was when its woes began. General Mohammed Siad Barre ruled for 22 years before his ouster by various organisations which led to the chaos that still pervades the country. To the world, Somalia is like a territory lost in time and space. Afghanistan was a victim of the Cold War. Radicals close to the defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, seized power.

    To flush them out, the West mobilised Muslim youths across the world to fight the supposedly godless infidels. The USSR intervened and a decade war ensued from 1979. The Soviets were defeated and they departed leaving the Islamic youths in control. Then the US intervened in 2001 to flush out the group it had assisted to gain power. The war went on for twenty years with the defeated armies of the US and its allies departing, leaving the same Islamists in power, and of course, a ruined economy and country. Afghanistan runs the danger of being forgotten like Somalia.

    Inter-ethnic and intra-religious conflicts erupted in Yemen  in 2014 pitching the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels against the pro-Saudi Sunni government. With the former overrunning major parts of the country, the Saudis and their allies like the UAE intervened, bombing parts of the country, targeting  markets, schools and hospitals. But  no major country is willing to step in to stop the Saudi genocide because they want to be in the good books of the conservative Saudi monarchy which deploys oil and religious power in a most vicious manner.

    The Russo-Ukrainian War promises to drag on until the world starts forgetting it or it erupts into an all-European war. This week, a missile fired deliberately or in error from Ukraine, landed in Poland killing two. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, perhaps hoping that this would  lead to other European countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO attacking its enemy, shouted that it was fired by Russia.

    But other European countries and the US do not seem to buy the story. Why that war,  like others, fester, is lack of effective leadership in the world. These endless conflicts are not about to end. Rather, new ones might be added like the baiting in Taiwan, and new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unilaterally declaring China as the greatest danger to world peace and development.

    In the next few weeks, world attention will be diverted to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. That tiny country of  2.931 million people occupying 11,437 square kilometres was  almost suffocated in 2017 by big Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE which gave it thirteen conditions to meet or pack up as a country. This included its shutting down the Aljazera international television network and Turkish military bases and cutting ties with Iran and specific Islamic militant groups. Defiant Qatar survived the war threats and from this Sunday, will host a football population over a third of its entire population.

    The field of play will be the war zone with attackers from various countries facing defenders. Although no physical missiles will be fired, but US which is testing its javeline weapons in the Ukrainian War and Iran which is testing its military drones in the same war, are squaring up in the field of Qatar on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Football and politics might mix. Since there are few leaders of substance in the world, troubled humanity would continue its unproductive conflicts after the entertainment in Qatar.

  • Patoranking, Kizz Daniel, Ckay set for 2022 Qatar World Cup performances

    Patoranking, Kizz Daniel, Ckay set for 2022 Qatar World Cup performances

    Reggae-dancehall singer, Patrick Okorie, aka Patoranking, is scheduled to perform for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, at the Al Bidda Park, in the country’s capital, Doha, on November 28, 2022.

    The ‘Girlie O’ crooner has undoubtedly carved a niche for himself with his style of music.

    Born and raised in Ijegun-Egba, Lagos State, he started his entertainment career as a dancer.

    The singer also seems to be an ardent lover of football. As a matter of fact, he stated that he got the inspiration for one of his songs, ‘Abule’, while playing football.

    Another singer rocking the music scene, Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe, aka Kizz Daniel, will perform at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

    For Daniel, this is a dream come true, as the ‘Cough’ singer had taken to his Twitter page months earlier to say that he wished to perform his hit song, ‘Buga’ at the tournament. He wrote on June 22, “God, I want to perform ‘Buga’ for (sic) the World Cup with a mass choir. Help me say ‘amen’.” Few months later, he is set to perform at the opening ceremony of the games.

    Chukwuka Ifeanyi, better known as Ckay, will join his Nigerian counterparts to perform at the tournament too.

    In an interview, the singer stated that he was excited to be one of the artists that would be performing at the World Cup.

    He had said, “Even though we (Nigeria) did not qualify for the World Cup; at least, there is still Nigeria representation in the area of music.”

    Recall that Ckay’s 2019 song, ‘Love Nwantiti’ enjoyed global acceptance.

    Though he was not listed among the artists that would perform at the World Cup, popular singer, David Adeleke, aka Davido, was featured on the theme song for the competition.

    He joined Latin-American singer, Trinidad Cardonna; and Qatari singer, Aisha, to record the song titled, ‘Hayya Hayya’ (Better Together).

  • FIFA under pressure to ban beer sales completely in Qatar

    FIFA under pressure to ban beer sales completely in Qatar

    World Cup host Qatar, is pressuring FIFA to stop the sale of beer at the eight World Cup stadiums, according to reports.

    The sale of alcohol is strictly controlled in Qatar, but it is due to be available in the area immediately outside match venues and fan zones, as well as within hotels.

    Budweiser is one of FIFA’s biggest sponsors, but was told on Saturday to relocate stalls selling its product at stadiums to less prominent locations.

    The Times reports that Qatar 2022, now wants to go even further and that discussions are ongoing between FIFA and Budweiser.

    The PA news agency has approached FIFA and Budweiser owner AB InBev for comment.

    In response to the request to move its outlets, AB InBev told Sky News: “AB InBev was informed on Nov. 12, and is working with FIFA to relocate the concession outlets to locations as directed.

    “We are working with FIFA to bring the best possible experience to the fans. Our focus is on delivering the best possible consumer experience under the new circumstances.’’

  • In Love, As in Football, Size Does Not Matter. Here’s Why – By Azu Ishiekwene

    In Love, As in Football, Size Does Not Matter. Here’s Why – By Azu Ishiekwene

    It’s a great time to be a football lover. It might not feel exactly so if your country is not one of the 32 taking part in the 22nd edition of the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. But being a fan means managing to love the game without having your dog in the fight.

    For example, Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles, won’t be in Qatar – the second time in eight years. But since the team crashed out to Ghana in February, fans have managed to reconcile with their misery, especially with forthcoming elections which essentially foist a choice between Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

    One month of jousting over which striker should have played in what position and who should have been benched is more useful for fans than listening to politicians promising heaven on earth without the remotest idea of how they plan to make it happen.

    With national pride at stake for some, big money and career for a few, a chance to stake a political claim for others, and yet others with nothing but the ephemeral joy of the moment to lose, Doha is the world’s most valuable, and for the price of $220 billion, perhaps the most expensive one-month distraction.

    At times like these, for Africans, either at home or in the Diaspora, the trend is to gravitate their passion and support to the participating countries representing the continent. Senegal, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia and Cameroon would carry the continent’s flag, after favourites, Egypt and Nigeria had failed to qualify.

    In the history of the competition, only three African countries have made it to the quarter finals stage: Cameroon (Italia ’90), Senegal (Korea/Japan 2002), and Ghana (South Africa 2010), and only South Africa has been able to muster the resources to host the World Cup.

    No surprises, here though. Hosting the tournament has never been for the fainthearted. The 29-day tournament is costing the Kingdom of Qatar about 15 times the amount of Nigeria’s proposed 2023 budget and more than six times the proposed expenditure of N20.51 trillion.

    Only deep pocket economies like Qatar and others like it can fund the huge infrastructural developments and building of eight stadiums. One of them, the 60,000 capacity Al Bayt Stadium, is modelled on the traditional Arabian tent with a retractable roof.

    With the third highest human development index in the Arab world and the third highest gas reserves in the world, this tiny country of less than three million people is proving that some great things can be achieved not by size.

    And to think that its size is one the reasons former FIFA president Sepp Blatter feels Qatar doesn’t qualify as a World Cup host.

    But even if physical size is at issue, fiscal ability is the name of the game. And the young Arab sitting over this treasure trove has got more than enough cash to splash, host and entertain the rest of the world, represented by 32 national teams, many times over.

    Born in 1980, Qatari king, Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani, has built a reputation of attracting high profile global sporting events to the Arabian Peninsula state even before he ascended the throne in 2013, as part of his strategies to raise Qatar’s international profile.

    He also chaired the 2006 organising committee of the Asian Games.

    Due partly to his contributions, Qatar had also hosted the Asian Handball Championships in 2004, Asian Basketball Championships in 2005, and the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) World Cycling Championships in 2016. A bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics had failed as Doha lost out to Tokyo, Japan.

    Coming after the world cup, are the 2024 Aquatic Championship in Doha and the Asian Games in 2030, also in Doha.

    The sheikhs are not only interested in developing a vibrant sports economy, their investments are spreading into the major football leagues of Europe as Qatar Sports Investments’ Nasser Al-Khelaifi owns Paris Saint Germain (PSG) – leading French club side and one of the richest clubs in football – with a net worth of $3.2billion, according to Forbes’ Soccer Team Valuations List.

    They reportedly own substantial shares in Portuguese and Belgian club sides as well. They also have substantial investments in what is arguably the world’s deadliest club side, Manchester City, and the latest sensation of the Premier League, New Castle.

    Qatar 2022 is the first time the senior World Cup will be held in the Middle East since its inception. The Qatari Kingdom had to face up to giant neighbours Saudi Arabi, alongside UAE, Egypt and Bahrain imposing an economic blockade that cost the tiny Gulf nation $43billion in losses, according to Al-Jazeera.

    In June 2017, the four states cut all diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting “terrorism” and destabilising the region – allegations Doha denied. Qatar ramped up local production and established diplomatic relations with Iran to not only overcome the challenges of the siege, but manage declining oil revenues.

    In January 2021, Saudi Foreign Ministry announced that Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had resumed ties with Doha, during the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, a reconciliation mediated by Kuwait.

    Blatter says Qatar 2022 was a “mistake”. Qatar was graded as having “high operational risk”, and generated much criticism as being part of the FIFA corruption scandals. Blatter’s “confessions” indicate that there was pressure from the French government under Nicholas Sarkozy and the connivance of former UEFA president, Michel Platini, to award hosting rights to Qatar.

    But the travails the world has gone through in the past few years are indicative that the choice of Qatar was probably right. Most rich Arab Gulf nations have been significantly insulated from the global economic shocks and the ravages of COVID-19.

    The global economic depression and the COVID-19 pandemic had left even the financial powerhouses of Europe gasping for air, with the Russian-Ukraine war delivering yet another power punch on the world’s cereals and grains powerhouse.

    Rising food and energy costs which have caused domestic unrest in many countries would have made the high costs of hosting the World Cup at this time a very difficult task for the United States, which, according to the former FIFA boss, should have been the host of the 2022 tournament, after Russia hosted the 2018 edition.

    Football pundits and insiders have always alleged insider manipulations and boardroom politics in the running of the international football federation, and it appears Blatter is bent on confirming it.

    These considerations may well be behind the reasons Africa, with 54 member states in FIFA, gets only five qualification slots for the World Cup.

    Yet, going by Blatter’s words, Europe which is comparatively smaller than Asia, Africa, north and south America has 13 slots for Qatar 2022.

    Blatter may be talking about hosting rights and not participation in the world cup, but the goose and gander deserve a fair shot at one of the world’s most popular sports.

    It doesn’t make sense that Europe with 55 members in FIFA, gets 13 slots, more than double that of Africa, which has only one number less in FIFA’s membership.

    As the games begin on Sunday, about 200,000 fans will be travelling to match venues in Qatar, while an estimated five billion fans would be watching around the world, including fans in Russia and Ukraine separated by a totally needless war.

    Football is a tribal game. Though money and politics have often competed to spoil and corrupt it, just as they have sometimes proved indispensable in its improvement, when all is said and done, the kindred spirit of the true fans prevails.

    And that is the promise of Qatar.

     

    Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP

  • French President Macron defends possible trip to Qatar for World Cup

    French President Macron defends possible trip to Qatar for World Cup

    French President Emmanuel Macron has defended himself against criticism of his possible visit to Qatar for the World Cup if the France team reaches the semi-finals or final.

    “I don’t think you have to politicise sports,” Macron said on Thursday during a trip to Bangkok.

    “You have to ask these questions when you award the competitions,” Macron said, referring to climate or human rights issues at World Cup events and Olympic Games.

    “They should not be asked every time the event is happening, but the moment you award it.”

    Qatar has long been criticised for alleged human rights abuses.

    The World Cup was awarded to the country in 2010.

    The Élysée Palace had recently announced that Macron would travel to Qatar if the holders make it to the semi-finals or final.

  • The only reason I will leave Real Madrid – Hazard

    The only reason I will leave Real Madrid – Hazard

    Real Madrid attacker Eden Hazard says he’ll leave the La Liga side only if the club asks him to.

    Although the 31-year-old is firmly focused on delivering for Belgium at the World Cup in Qatar, his future with Los Blancos remains a huge talking point.

    With just six appearances to his name so far this season, Hazard admits he would be open to a move away from the Spanish giants if he was asked to leave.

    He said, “When I don’t play it’s difficult, but if I play, of course. Soccer is my life and I just want to play.

    “It’s hard because I don’t play much, but there are good people and that’s what I want, to train and play with them. If I can help, all the better, but at the moment I can’t. I will try to give it my all.”

    Asked if he could leave in January, Hazard stated: “In January it is impossible, because I have family and I like the city. But in summer it is possible that I could leave. I have one more year on my contract and it is the club’s decision.

    “If the club tells me ‘Eden, thanks for the four years, but you have to go’, I have to accept it because it is normal. But I would like to play more, to show that I can play, that I am a good player.”