He expressed his determination to criticize ahead of the opening… “Qatar is ready… it will be the best World Cup ever”
“You can live without drinking for 3 hours” in the decision to ban beer around the stadium
(Doha = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-seong = International Football Federation (FIFA) president Gianni Infantino holds a press conference at the Main Media Center (MMC) in Doha, Qatar on the morning of the 19th (local time), the day before the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 2022.11.19 utzza@yna.co.kr
(Alayan = Yonhap News) Reporter Choi Song-ah = Ahead of the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA president Gianni Infantino (52) refutes Western criticism surrounding the tournament and the host country, Qatar, and now focuses on the tournament. appealed to do
At a press conference for the opening of the World Cup held at the World Cup Main Media Center at the Qatar National Convention Center in Alayan, Qatar on the 19th, Chairman Infantino directly attacked Western criticism related to Qatar, saying, “It is hypocrisy to teach a lesson unilaterally.”
The 22nd World Cup, which kicks off on the 20th, is the first to be held in the Middle East, and is different from other competitions in many ways. The tournament is held in November-December, not in summer, and eight stadiums are concentrated in a radius of regarding 50 km.
Qatar’s ‘human rights situation’ is particularly often on the cutting edge.
In preparation for the World Cup, migrant workers were forced into harsh working conditions and claims that thousands of people lost their lives have been raised in the European media. It was also pointed out that Qatar does not respect the rights of women and sexual minorities.
Being conscious of this situation, President Infantino seemed determined to make all his remarks by himself for regarding an hour before taking questions from the reporters, expressing his opinions on pending issues.
(Doha = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-seong = During a press conference held at the Main Media Center (MMC) in Doha, Qatar, on the morning of the 19th (local time), the day before the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was answering. He is touching the official ball ‘Al Rila’. 2022.11.19 utzza@yna.co.kr
“I don’t want to give you life lessons, but what’s going on here is very unjust. Considering what Europeans have done in the last 3,000 years, we have to apologize for the next 3,000 years before we can teach people a moral lesson.” He argued that he had no right to criticize.
“Reform and change take time,” he said, defending Qatar as being in the process. “Qatar is ready. It will be the best World Cup ever.”
“We are confident that everyone who comes to Qatar, regardless of religion, race or sexual orientation, will be welcome. This is our requirement, and Qatar abides by it,” he added.
Beginning his speech by saying, “I feel like a Qatari, an Arab, and an African today. I also feel the feelings of a gay, a disabled person, and a migrant worker.” He even brought up the experience of being bullied because of his looks when he was younger.
“I don’t have to defend Qatar. They can defend themselves. I just defend the football,” he said. “Don’t criticize the players, don’t pressure them. Don’t criticize Qatar. I’m responsible for FIFA and everything. criticize,” he said.
President Infantino was also wary of political interpretation of Iran’s participation in the tournament, which was requested to be withdrawn due to women’s rights issues.
“It’s not a confrontation between two regimes or ideologies, it’s just a game between two soccer teams. If even soccer can’t unite us, what kind of world will we live in? Iran has a population of 80 million. Are all the people bad and monsters?”
(Doha = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Joo-seong = International Football Federation (FIFA) president Gianni Infantino holds a press conference at the Main Media Center (MMC) in Doha, Qatar on the morning of the 19th (local time), the day before the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 2022.11.19 utzza@yna.co.kr
There was also mention of the sudden withdrawal of the plan to sell beer around the stadium on the 18th, two days before the opening day.
Qatar, an Islamic country, is a country where alcohol sales and drinking are prohibited, but beer sales were allowed in some designated places during the World Cup.
In particular, it was decided to sell beer in designated areas outside the stadium, but in response to Qatar’s constant demand for a ban, it was decided to remove the beer sales points around the stadium.
President Infantino emphasized that “all decisions related to this tournament are ‘joint decisions’ between Qatar and FIFA” and explained that the measures were taken in consideration of the characteristics of this tournament, where four games are held at the same time, and the amount of movement of people.
“France, Spain, Scotland, etc. also ban alcohol at stadiums,” he added. “Personally, I think I can live without drinking for regarding 3 hours a day.”
When he pointed out that he was changing the decision related to the competition too quickly, he explained that he had tried to consider the possibility, saying, “When making a decision, you go through procedures and discussions and consider the details. The world is not such an easy place.”
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Meanwhile, by the time the press conference, which lasted nearly 2 hours, including 40 minutes of Q&A, was over, Brian Swanson (42, Scotland), who was in charge of hosting the FIFA media relations, revealed that he was gay.
“As a former gay man, I am sitting in an honored seat on the international stage here in Qatar. I believe that everyone will be welcome at this World Cup,” he said, emphasizing the purpose of Chairman Infantino’s statement that minorities will not be discriminated once morest in Qatar. was
Swanson, who worked as a Sky Sports reporter for 18 years from 2003, has been working for FIFA since last year.
songa@yna.co.kr
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