FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to all 32 countries going to the World Cup to address growing concerns over Qatar.
Infantino has told England and the other nations going to the tournament they are aware of the issues but want to let football take centre stage. Football’s world governing body is facing a major backlash over the decision to stage it in Qatar because of human rights issues surrounding migrant workers, discrimination and also huge safety concerns over fans from the LGBT community.
It promises to be the most controversial World Cup in history but FIFA are stressing in the letter that the governing body remains an apolitical organisation and there are major problems facing the world and not just Qatar. The letter - signed by Infantino and general secretary Fatma Samoura - has also urged nations to focus on the tournament despite the huge storm in the build-up to the World Cup which starts on November 20.
A passage from the letter reads: “Everyone is welcome regardless of origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality.” England captain Harry Kane has promised to wear a rainbow armband in support of LGBT rights while Australia’s players made a passionate video and other nations have promised to take a stand.
It was under the previous FIFA regime when Qatar won the rights to stage the tournament and it is alleged that thousands of migrant workers died in the building of stadiums while there are major concerns over the treatment of LGBT fans. But Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has also echoed Infantino’s sentiments and insisted that football cannot expect players to be politicians.
Klopp, when receiving the Freedom of Liverpool, said: “I don't like that we expect [the players] now to do something. They go there to play football. It's not about this generation's players to say now that 'we don't go, or we don't do that'.
"The decision [to hold the tournament in Qatar] was made by other people, and if you want to criticise anybody, criticise the people who made the decision.
