Will you be watching the World Cup?
Has the build up to the World Cup left you with mixed feelings about the tournament?
The tournament begins on Sunday 20th November, with Scotland in group A and both England and Wales in group B.
The contest kicks off this weekend in Qatar surrounded by controversy. There have been huge worker’s rights and human rights issues and homosexuality is still illegal.
It has just been announced there is a ban on the sale of alcohol in the stadium two days before the event is due to start. Budweiser, a major sponsor of Fifa, had exclusive rights to sell beer at the World Cup.
Prince William is President of the Football Association, and he is not planning on attending the Men’s World Cup in Qatar. However, the Prince of Wales would possibly still go if England make it to the end of the tournament.
Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales met campaigners ahead of his upcoming trip to the Qatar World Cup who urged him to use “every opportunity” to speak up for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.
He said it had been a “challenging decision” whether to attend the World Cup in the Arab state.
“On the one hand it is very important that we are there to support our team – it’s the first time in 64 years – but also because it provides such a platform to promote Wales and its interests around the world.
“On the other hand, the concerns about the World Cup being in Qatar – the concerns about workers’ rights, human rights, LGBTQ+ rights. Those are very real.
Mr Drakeford added that the Welsh Government “shares the discomfort” of people concerned about the World Cup being held in Qatar.
“But nevertheless Wales is in the World Cup, one of only 32 countries, a small nation of only three million people on that stage, a rare opportunity – we shouldn’t allow that opportunity to go missing.”
With concerns in Scotland also having being raised about the country’s treatment of migrant workers, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland was asked if Scottish Football Association (SFA) officials should be going to the event.
She was clear that the attendance of SFA officials is a matter for the sporting body, saying “governments should not intervene” in these decisions.
“Qatar has repeatedly committed that everybody is welcome to the tournament and we will continue to encourage equal treatment and the respect of individual rights, and identify what action the Qatari authorities are taking to match their commitment.”
It is also an offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public in Qatar although there will be designated fan zones established for the World Cup.
Do you think it is right to participate in a tournament that has been mired in so much controversy? As it is going ahead will you be watching it regardless or do you have reservations?
