Fans ‘not here for drink’, Drakeford says ahead of World Cup opener for Wales The First Minister insisted he would raise human rights concerns during his World Cup trip to Qatar. The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2022
World Cup 2022 opening ceremony LIVE: Qatar raises curtain on football’s greatest show The World Cup starts today with Qatar vs Ecuador kicking off the tournament after the opening ceremony at Al Bayt Stadium The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2022
Qatar take on Ecuador to launch 2022 World Cup A capacity crowd of 60,000 is expected at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha on Sunday night to watch Qatar and Ecuador launch the 2022 World Cup. Radio France Internationale · Nov 20, 2022
Remember his name: How Briton Zac Cox died working on England’s first World Cup venue Briton Zac Cox died working on the refurbishment of the Khalifa International Stadium in 2017. On Monday, England began their World Cup campaign in the same venue The Independent UK · Nov 20, 2022
World Cup 2022: Fifa Infantino ‘is in a hole and should stop digging’ – as it happened All the buildup and latest news from the World Cup in Qatar before Qatar open tournament against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2022
The Infantinshow: FIFA president offers absurd equivalences ahead of big kick-off Ginger hair and freckles. So now we know. That is why we are where we are: plonked down here in the middle of the desert, Persian Gulf to one side,… The National (Scotland) · Nov 20, 2022
World Cup 2022 briefing: 10 things to look out for on day one Our daily rundown will be available through the tournament, and here’s the latest news ahead of the hosts getting it under way The Guardian - UK · Nov 20, 2022
Stuart Cosgrove: Qatar World Cup is a manifestation of a venal governing body Many people are only now waking up to the unprecedented levels of greed that lay at the heart of Fifa’s decision to choose to locate the World Cup… The National (Scotland) · Nov 20, 2022
Qatar’s World Cup Stadium Beer Ban Is About So Much More Power. Hypocrisy. Control. You name it. The late World Cup U-turn sends a message on the eve of the competition, and FIFA is content to do the host nation’s bidding. Sports Illustrated · Nov 19, 2022
'FIFA World Cup deserves a decent country to host it - Qatar falls short' It was up to FIFA when awarding the tournament in 2010 to decide whether a country which punishes same sex acts with seven years jail was appropriate for the world’s top international competition Daily Mirror · Nov 19, 2022
FIFA boss branded 'numpty' for comparing his ginger hair to being gay in Qatar Gianni Infantino compared his childhood bullying due to his ginger hair to the suffering of migrant workers and the LGBT+ community in a country where homosexuality is illegal during a bizarre rant Daily Mirror · Nov 19, 2022
World Cup: England and Wales to ‘defy FIFA with OneLove armbands’ in matches England captain Harry Kane with be joined by his Welsh counterpart Gareth Bale in a show of defiance by wearing “OneLove” rainbow armbands despite Fifa warning them not to. Evening Standard · Nov 19, 2022
Gianni Infantino and Fifa have failed football by botching buildup to Qatar Lack of preparation time means that most competing nations will not have had the chance to try fresh faces or tactics The Guardian - UK · Nov 19, 2022
Fans, fun, fireworks: Qatar World Cup 2022 enjoys rare moment of normality Matches kick off with fan zones looking like construction sites, persistent fears over how gay fans will be treated and concerns over human rights abuses The Guardian - UK · Nov 19, 2022
The Guardian - UK · Nov 19, 2022 Gianni Infantino does his Football Jesus act during strange monologue on Qatar Fifa’s leader revealed himself in all his marzipan ooze, shifting shape but oddly lost and angry ahead of this reeling World Cup
Leeds Live · Nov 19, 2022 FIFA president Gianni Infantino says Europeans should look at themselves before criticising Qatar The FIFA boss hit out at critics on the eve of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
The Independent UK · Nov 19, 2022 ‘Not the World Cup for all that Fifa promised’: GayGooners make Qatar protest Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community has been heavily criticised
Chronicle Live · Nov 19, 2022 FIFA media chief defends 'inclusive' organisation as he comes out as gay during World Cup press conference Former ITV Tyne Tees and Sky Sports reporter Bryan Swanson made the announcement in defence of FIFA president Gianni Infantino
Daily Record · Nov 19, 2022 Scots ex-Sky Sports reporter 'feels safe as gay man' in Qatar and defends FIFA president He addressed a press conference after Gianni Infantino launched a robust defence of Qatar's laws and their treatment of homosexuals and migrant workers.
The Times of India · Nov 19, 2022 FIFA World Cup: Infantino comes out with guns blazing, and some ammo from India DOHA: Is football – fandom, emotion, hope, disappointment, glory, and identity – the preserve of a select few, and only they get to decide who can partake in this global communion because they run the show, decide the TV times?
Evening Standard · Nov 19, 2022 World Cup 2022: ‘Crass’ Gianni Infantino’s Qatar rant labeled an ‘insult’ as human rights groups speak out Human rights groups have moved quickly to condemn Gianni Infantino’s extraordinary defence of hosts World Cup hosts Qatar, accusing the FIFA president of “deflection and whataboutery" and warning that “history will not judge this moment kindly”.
Al Jazeera · Nov 19, 2022 FIFA president slams Western ‘hypocrisy’ over Qatar criticism In fiery news conference, Gianni Infantino said Western countries were not in a position to give ‘moral lessons’.
Evening Standard · Nov 19, 2022 Gianni Infantino’s masterclass in whataboutery strikes all the wrong notes on eve of Qatar World Cup Gianni Infantino wants football to be the only talking point in Qatar but the irony is that even the most engaging 90 minutes of the World Cup will struggle to top the extraordinary drama of the FIFA president’s hour-and-a-half press conference on the eve of the tournament.
The Guardian - UK · Nov 19, 2022 I hate the very idea of this World Cup in Qatar, but I’ll have to watch: it’s the beautiful game While sport speaks to the best of the human spirit, officials too often degrade it, says author and broadcaster Mihir Bose
WEKU · Nov 19, 2022 FIFA chief blasts critics ahead of World Cup in Qatar and accuses them of hypocrisy In an extraordinary opening news conference before the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the host country's decision to ban beer at stadiums and Qatar's human rights record.