Alan Shearer believes countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia should 'absolutely' be held to account over their human rights records. The Newcastle United legend was asked about the subject during an extensive debate in the BBC Sport studio ahead of Ecuador's victory in the opening match of the World Cup.
A first-half double from Enner Valencia sealed a 2-0 win for the South American side on Sunday, as football took centre stage after weeks of debates focused upon off the field issues. Gianni Infantino urged countries to 'stick to football' ahead of the competition, while the FIFA president himself was heavily criticised for his hour-long speech on the eve of the tournament.
Shearer has previously been quizzed about Newcastle United's majority owners following the controversial takeover in October last year, admitting before he was left feeling 'conflicted' over the deal. While expressing his excitement at his former side's form under Eddie Howe, the pundit insists it is still right for countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia to be scrutinised over their human rights records.
