David Beckham has come under fire in recent months for his ambassadorial role as part of the World Cup.
The former Three Lions and Manchester United midfielder reportedly struck a £150m deal that saw him become the face of the landmark tournament in the Middle East. At the time he stated that he saw it as a chance for football to be a 'force for good.'
However many have criticised Beckham's decision. Qatar has been under fire for its treatment of migrant workers and also the handling of issues such as LGBTQ+ rights.
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Despite the consistent criticism, Beckham has been silent on the matter but has been present throughout the tournament, with the cameras often focusing on him watching on from the stands. However, he has now issued a response to Joe Lycett, the Mirror reports.
A spokesman for Beckham stated: “David has been involved in a number of World Cups and other major international tournaments both as a player and an ambassador and he has always believed that sport has the power to be a force for good in the world. Football, the most popular sport globally, has a genuine ability to bring people together and make a real contribution to communities.
“We understand that there are different and strongly held views about engagement in the Middle East but see it as positive that debate about the key issues has been stimulated directly by the first World Cup being held in the region. We hope that these conversations will lead to greater understanding and empathy towards all people and that progress will be achieved.”
With the Qatar World Cup coming to a close and none of the major issues addressed by Beckham, many will be disappointed with the former England captain's response.
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