Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup as planned despite continued concerns over its readiness, the country’s Emir has insisted.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has come out in support of the project in the face of growing calls for former US attorney Michael Garcia’s anti-corruption report – which centres on the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 finals – to be published in full.
But the Emir is convinced that Qatar is best placed to deliver a successful tournament.
“People should understand that Qatar had the best bid, and Qatar will provide and will do one of the best World Cups in history and I’m sure about that,” Continue...
“People don’t want to accept, don’t want to realise that a small country, Arab, Muslim country, can host a big event like that.”
There are also ongoing worries regarding the number of migrant worker fatalities in the construction of World Cup stadia. Yet the Emir has admitted to the country having had its issues and underlined the changes that have been made to rectify such issues.
“Yes, it’s true that we had problems. We’re solving the problems. We’re enforcing the laws – it is not acceptable.”
“We changed the laws. There are many laws that have been changed. And I’m telling you because I am personally hurt about the situation.
“All the media is concentrating on Qatar due to the World Cup. If we have problems I don’t mind talking about the problems. But also we need to talk about other things, about those laws that we did.”
Fifa has already admitted that in all likelihood the finals will need to move from their traditional slot in June/July to become a winter competition for 2022 in order to suit the stifling climate in Qatar, but calls remain for a rethink into the decision to hand hosting rights to the country.
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