David Beckham is getting slammed on social media. On Friday night he posted a selfie on Instagram from the stadium in Qatar just before the England v USA game.
And his followers were not impressed: “Money means more to you than women’s safety.”
“Don’t understand why someone would take money they didn’t need and destroy there (sic) legacy! Just shows some people can be bought easily. #disappointing
“It’s called GREED. How much money do you actually need?”
“You are taking Qatari money, you agree with their values.”
These are just some of the thousands of comments that reflect people’s disappointment at a much-loved footballing icon after he accepted a reported £150million from the Qatari rulers to be an ambassador for the World Cup.
This is a man who flogs whisky, has appeared on the cover of gay magazines, and is BFFs with Elton John, for goodness sake! Brand Beckham has been carefully orchestrated and curated for decades – now he has risked destroying his reputation for a fistful of riyals.
I can’t even watch the World Cup. It’s my way of protesting against the decision of FIFA to hold it in a country with such horrendous views on migrant workers, gay people and women. What kind of a message are we sending our children when they watch a global tournament in 2022 in a country that bans fans from wearing a rainbow hat?
I have always watched the World Cup with my family. The tournament brings people together, unites them with one thing in common, the love of football. And the build-up is as exciting as the actual tournament.
There’s a buzz in every country, the flags are out, the shirts are on and the party starts. And the atmosphere in the host country is always electric. Even if you can’t get a ticket to the game, there are plenty of places where you can have a beer with your mates, catch the match and get into the spirit.
But reports coming back from the fans this year are not great: the beer (when you can get it) is ridiculously expensive, the stadiums are too cold due to the excessive air conditioning, and the rules which include no drinking, no dating, no homosexuality, no loud music, no immodesty is enough to suck the joy out of anyone. It’s going to go down in history as the worst World Cup ever. So what on earth was David Beckham thinking, supporting this lot?
He is in danger of undermining all the good work he has done for charity over the years – for UNICEF, Aids charities, kids’ sports development.
When he queued to see the Queen’s coffin in his three-piece suit, he was the embodiment of a true English gent, with all the values and principles we hold dear. It’s a shame those principles were so easily bought.
