Outrage as FIFA boss laughs with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman Qatar World Cup opening ceremony
>
The sight of FIFA chief Gianni Infantino laughing with controversial Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the opening ceremony of the World Cup has sparked outrage among football fans and pundits.
The chairman of the governing body was deep in conversation with the prince, also known as ‘MBS’, in the royal box during the opening of the tournament in Doha on Sunday night – and many journalists and supporters were quick to lash out at the meeting and what it could mean for the future of the World Cup.
It’s not the first time the pair have been seen together at a major sporting event; they enjoyed each other’s company at the opening of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and then at the heavyweight title fight between boxers Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in August.
US intelligence agencies have claimed that MBS authorized the gruesome murder and mutilation of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, and the crown prince has been accused of presiding over human rights abuses in his country.
Infantino was criticized when he was seen laughing with the Saudi crown prince (pictured, right) during the opening ceremony in Doha on Sunday evening
Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (second from left) gives a speech as the FIFA President sits next to Mohammed bin Salman
As FIFA attempts to rebuild its image after a string of corruption scandals and amid widespread, intense criticism over the decision to award the tournament to Qatar, Infantino’s closeness to the royal family is raising eyebrows at a time when Saudi Arabia is facing a bid to host the 2030 World Cup. .
Saudi Arabia also severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and blocked its planes and ships from its airspace and maritime area in 2017, citing the country’s alleged support for terrorism. The ‘Gulf blockade’ only ended in January of this year
Journalist Laurie Whitwell summed up the feelings of many fans when he tweeted: ‘Mohammed bin Salman sits next to Gianni Infantino for the second time in a row at the opening match of the World Cup.
In 2018, Russia played against Saudi Arabia. Now, any sign of which way the 2030 World Cup wind is blowing?’
Sky News’ Melissa Reddy said the image of the couple at the ceremony will be talked about “beyond football” and “maybe in a few years”.
That’s instructive for a number of reasons. First, Saudi Arabia is leading a bid to host the 2030 World Cup with Greece and Egypt. That’s what they want so badly,” she explained.
“The other reason is because of the Gulf blockade, which only ended in January last year.”
MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan tweeted: “MBS sitting in the box next to the Emir of Qatar during the opening ceremony reminds us how futile and destructive the Saudi-led four-year boycott of Qatar was. They’re all friends again, just in time for the World Cup!’
Fans were blunt about the message they thought the pair were sending out.
“Uh, Infantino sitting next to MBS doesn’t look good,” Ryan Bailey wrote.
“I think the fact that they’re showing MBS sitting next to Gianni Infantino for the opening ceremony as they head to a CGI stadium in the middle of a sand dune really sums up everything this World Cup is about,” tweeted Garrett Rampon.
“The US supported MBS immunity two days ago at the request of Gianni Infantino so he could sit next to him and not feel bad,” another fan wrote.
The interaction between the pair came after Infantino stunned the sport on Saturday with a deaf speech, criticizing the decision to give Qatar the Cup despite its record on LGBTQ+ rights and treatment of migrant workers.
Infantino (pictured giving a speech at the opening ceremony) also drew heavy criticism after delivering a bizarre speech defending the decision to give Qatar the Cup
During his press conference, the president even compared his own experience as a red-haired child with that of gays and disabled people.
Infantino said, “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel handicapped. Today I feel (like) a migrant worker.
“Of course I’m not Qatari, I’m not Arab, I’m not African, I’m not gay, I’m not disabled.
‘But I’m looking forward to it, because I know what it means to be discriminated against, to be bullied, as a foreigner in a foreign country. I was bullied as a child – because I had red hair and freckles, and I was Italian, imagine.’
Fans responded by calling the speech “bizarre” and “tone-deaf,” with one saying, “Confirmation, as if it were necessary that FIFA and Infantino have absolutely no idea what true inclusivity is all about.”