FIFA president Gianni Infantino lashes out at critics of World Cup hosts Qatar in a shameful speech

FIFA president Gianni Infantino clashed with criticism of Qatar from Europe on the eve of the World Cup.

The game’s global governing body has come under attack for its decision to bring the final to Qatar, where the spotlight is on the treatment of migrant workers and the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

Ahead of Sunday’s opening game of the tournament, Infantino said: ‘We have learned a lot of lessons from some Europeans, from the Western world.

“I think for what we Europeans have done over the past 3,000 years, we should apologize for the next 3,000 years before we start teaching people moral lessons.”

Infantino added: “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. As a child I was bullied – because I had red hair and freckles, and I was Italian, imagine.

Gianni Infantino lashed out at host country critics before appearing to compare his own experience to that of the marginalized

‘What are you doing then? You try to get involved, make friends. Don’t start accusing, fighting, insulting, you start to engage. And this is what we should do.’

Infantino seemed to suggest that Europe should “do as Qatar did” in admitting migrant workers.

“If Europe really cared about the fate of these young people,” Infantino said of the migrant workers. “Europe could do as Qatar did, create some legal channels where at least some, some percentage of these workers could come.”

“Lower revenues … but give them some hope, give them some future. This means we shouldn’t point out what doesn’t work, also here in Qatar there are of course some things that don’t work and need to be addressed.

Infantino said if Europe “really cares about the migrant workers” they would do as Qatar did in creating “legal channels” for them to enter

“This moral teaching, one-sided, it’s just hypocrisy.”

Asked about the safety of gay supporters traveling to the country – Qatar is ranked as one of the most dangerous places on earth to be gay – Infantino said he and the organizers had ‘confirmed’ that everyone is welcome.

“They (Qatari organizers) have confirmed and I can confirm that everyone is welcome. If you have someone here and there saying the opposite, that is not the opinion of the country, and certainly not the opinion of FIFA,” he said.

“As for the workers, these are processes,” he said. “Of course I think it should be possible as FIFA president, but I went through a process.”

Peter Tatchell said he was arrested in Qatar after organizing what he says was the country’s first LGBT protest

Several sources have reported that as many as 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since preparations for the World Cup began. Qatar has built stadiums, hotels, a deep-sea port, an airport expansion and an all-new metro system in preparation for the tournament.

Infantino claimed to have addressed the issue of migrant workers “directly” when he arrived three years ago.

“I came here three years ago and have discussed the issue of migrant workers from my very first meeting,” he said.

Infantino got into trouble earlier this year with human rights organizations such as Amnesty and FairSquare when he told the European Council in Strasbourg that only ‘three’ migrant workers had died. That specific number appears to come from the Qatari authorities themselves, traced back to their own Workers Welfare Progress Reports. It is a number that is highly disputed by Amnesty, among others.

Likewise, he told the same body in Strasbourg that FIFA’s controversial plans for a biennial World Cup could prove decisive in the refugee crisis.

“We need to give Africans hope so that they don’t have to cross the Mediterranean to find perhaps a better life, but more likely death at sea.

“We have to give opportunities and we have to give dignity, not by giving charity, but by letting the rest of the world participate,” he said.

It is the latest in a series of controversial incidents that have marred the run-up to the tournament. It was reported on Friday – and subsequently confirmed by the parties involved themselves – that beer would no longer be sold in stadiums, potentially putting FIFA in a major legal dispute with one of their biggest sponsors, Budweiser, with whom they have a multi- million pound contract.

It was announced that beer and other alcoholic beverages would still be available in the company seats.

Meanwhile, seemingly after a series of negative stories surrounding the trick, fans who traveled to the country as part of the Fan Leader program – which involved supporters from each of the 32 countries – were told their daily allowance of £60 has been paid cut.

According to The Guardian, the allowance was cut just as supporters were getting ready to travel to the country. Many relied on it as their daily food and drink budget.

More to come.