Gary Lineker has slammed Qatar for their “corrupt” World Cup bid and explained why he is covering the tournament despite feeling “queasy” about the country’s human rights record.
Lineker will front the BBC ’s coverage of the Qatar World Cup, which begins on November 20 and runs until the final on December 18. The former England striker is a veteran broadcaster, having covered six previous tournaments, but feels this one will be completely different to previous incarnations.
In an interview with the i newspaper, he revealed that the BBC had consulted organisations like Amnesty International to discuss sports washing and ensure they hit the right tone in their programming. He said the opening show will be like a “mini Panorama” and will focus on the many issues surrounding the tournament, rather than the football.
