>
Gary Neville insists he ‘abhors’ World Cup host Qatar’s human rights abuses…
Gary Neville has again defended his decision to take part in the World Cup despite ‘loathing’ host country Qatar’s human rights abuses.
The expert has been very outspoken about the poor conditions and deaths of migrant workers who build the competitive infrastructure, the lack of women’s rights and the Middle Eastern country’s blatant human rights record.
Neville, who works for Qatari broadcaster beIN SPORTS in Qatar, has been accused of hypocrisy but insists he “feel no conflict” about going to the tournament.
Gary Neville has insisted he ‘abhors’ World Cup host Qatar’s human rights abuses
The expert, 47, has been very candid about the poor conditions for migrant workers, the lack of women’s rights and the country’s blatant human rights record in the Middle East.
He said, “I don’t feel conflicted… that’s been under a lot of scrutiny in recent weeks. I accept that position because I’m there to get shot at, and people have heavily criticized me, as well as our colleagues at the BBC who were there yesterday.
“But the reality is, my take on it is simply that I hate violations of workers’ rights, I hate the idea of people not getting enough money, working in bad conditions, the idea of people not having proper accommodation. Women’s rights and human rights violations. I can not stand it.
‘But I also have relationships with people in this part of the world and have for many years. Those relationships have existed in our country for a long time. The fact that we get most of our energy from the Middle East, that they own our banks and that the Royal Family has relations with the Middle East – both sporting and charitable.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has accused Neville of hypocrisy, but Neville says he ‘feels no conflict’ over his work for Qatari broadcaster beIN SPORTS at the tournament
“You think our government and political parties have relations with the Middle East. They own London Heathrow Airport, they own the London Stock Exchange. It is football that has brought control. And football tournaments that have drawn attention to issues that exist in these parts of the world.”
Neville, 47, claimed England manager Gareth Southgate and his Three Lions coaching staff should wear the ‘OneLove’ rainbow bracelet to show support for gay people after captain Harry Kane and Co were forced to stop wearing it.
FIFA’s governing body reversed course on Monday, suddenly insisting that skippers like Kane be shown a yellow card for wearing the band during the match – in a mockery of their supposedly even, neutral stance in the tournament.