Gary Lineker says he is in Qatar to “report, not support” the World Cup and will discuss issues surrounding the “tainted” tournament on air.
The host country has been criticized for its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers.
Lineker said there was an “unsettling feeling” around the tournament.
“It’s our job to come and report it and show people what it is at home and hopefully in a fair way,” he said.
Speaking to JEE News, Match of the Day presenter Lineker said: “There are important issues around this World Cup, obviously human rights issues, stadium construction and workers’ rights and homophobia. Phobias and different things. Here they are.
“I’m used to it because I’ve spent most of my life talking about things other than football in preparation for the World Cup, but when football starts you stop talking about it. . You have to be careful.”
Qatar has been accused of sportswashing – the practice of using sport to improve reputation and project a positive image of a country – but World Cup organizers have promised openness and inclusion.
Referring to Russia’s invasion of Crimea ahead of the final World Cup in 2018, former England captain Lineker added: “I felt we were washing the game in Russia. I don’t think what happened in Crimea The world rose up about it, and I include myself in it.
“It didn’t seem like the world objected as much as Russia did to invading Ukraine. You learn your lesson. This is the World Cup. This is where it is and we’re here to report on the World Cup and support it. Not doing it. Will raise issues and discuss them.
“Whether it makes a difference here, I suspect it won’t, but I think it’s important to talk about different issues as well as football.”
Lineker, who was top scorer at Mexico ’86, arrived in Qatar on Friday and said he was feeling “almost surreal” with just two days to go before the start of the World Cup, adding that it was the tournament’s previous matches. is “very different” from the editions.
Peaceful protests are planned by some players, while England’s Harry Kane, Wales’ Gareth Bale and eight other European captains will wear ‘One Love’ armbands, to promote diversity and inclusion in a country can be promoted where homosexuality is illegal.
But Lineker says the players “can’t win” at the World Cup whether they choose to speak out against Qatar or not.
“It’s a delicate balance between washing the game and trying to change. We’ll take the issues in hand but will it really make a difference?” They said.
“We don’t and footballers are not asked where the World Cup is, footballers can never win, if you speak up and take a stand, people say stick to football.
“If you don’t say anything, they say why aren’t you talking? And we don’t necessarily get that in other sports.
“I know it’s universal but it’s the same with talking about footballers’ salaries. People always talk about footballers being paid a lot but they’re not movie stars or singers or golfers or Formula One. 1 don’t talk about drivers and I think that’s one of the factors. Working-class boys are a little above their station. Even if it’s unconscious.”
‘Lack of self-awareness’ from FIFA
Qatar were awarded the World Cup in 2010, a decision Lineker says was “unforgivable”.
The decisions to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, respectively, have been fueled by widespread corruption allegations, two of which were investigated by Swiss prosecutors and the US Department of Justice in 2015.
Qatar and Russia have always denied any wrongdoing, and both were effectively cleared of FIFA’s own investigation in 2017.
At the time, then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter supported the bid, but now says it was a “mistake” to award the World Cup to an Arab nation.
In early November, FIFA wrote to all 32 competing nations asking them to “focus on football now” after the controversial construction.
“It was a real lack of self-awareness on FIFA’s part to say that,” Lineker said. “We’ve all seen the documentaries now, even though we felt it at the time.
“Most of the people who were involved in the decision to bring the World Cup here are in jail or kicked out by FIFA or fined or banned so we all know. We’re stuck with it but I think We will try to make the most of it.”
He added: “It’s come at a price that shouldn’t have been paid. It’s on my mind when we talk about it and raise issues, which we will do on television.
“When there’s a football match, I’ll be watching the football match but at the same time our thoughts will be with those who have lost their lives, how can you forget that?”
