England and Arsenal star Beth Mead has criticised the staging of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
It’s less than three weeks away until the next edition of the World Cup, but it’s fair to say that enthusiasm for FIFA’s flagship tournament is at an all-time low.
Jamie Carragher recently branded the event an “absolute disgrace”, “corrupt” and “absolutely disgusting” while appearing as a Champions League pundit on CBS Sports.
He’s not the only figure to speak out against the tournament, which gets underway on November 20th.
Mead, who won the Golden Boot at Euro 2022, told BBC Radio 4’s Woman's Hour that she would not be “backing or promoting” the World Cup.
What did Beth Mead say about the Qatar World Cup?
Mead, who is part of the LGBTQ+ community, spoke strongly against this month’s tournament.
There are strict laws prohibiting homosexuality in Qatar, with LGTBQ+ people in the country at risk of the death penalty.
“From the minute it was announced I thought, ‘I mean, it's not the best idea’,” Mead said.
“Obviously, the way they think and how they go is the complete opposite to what I believe and respect. Although I'm cheering for the boys who are going to play football there, I still don't think it's the right place. Unfortunately, money talks.
“The situation with the stadium’s being built, and the amount of people that have passed [away] because of that, it's not an ideal situation at all. It's not something that I will be backing or promoting. At all.
“Unfortunately, it is going ahead. Just disappointing, I guess, in the sense that there's no respect on a lot of levels, even though it's a game of football.”
Video: Watch Beth Mead criticise World Cup in Qatar
https://twitter.com/BBCWomansHour/status/1588141953941704704?s=20&t=MtNBftLJ-8F4WZXf5pEVkA
Why else has the Qatar World Cup been criticised?
Qatar has also been criticised for its treatment of migrant workers, who helped build the stadiums and other infrastructure for the World Cup.
According to a report by The Guardian last year, 6,500 migrant workers had died in the country since it was awarded the tournament in 2010.
In addition, due to Qatar's intense summer heat, the World Cup was moved from its usual summer slot to November and December.
This forced the Premier League to implement a winter break this season, and leaves plenty of players at risk of missing the World Cup through injury.
DOHA, QATAR - JUNE 22: (EDITORS NOTE: This photograph was taken using a drone) An aerial view of Education City stadium at sunrise on June 22, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Education City stadium, designed by Fenwick-Iribarren Architects and Pattern Design studio, is a host venue of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 starting in November. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
This was Carragher’s particular gripe, sparked by the sickening injury sustained by Son Heung-min during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League clash against Marseille.
“I think it’s an absolute disgrace that the World Cup is in the position it’s in, for lots of reasons,” Carragher said.
“It was corrupt that Qatar were given the World Cup, we knew that at the time.
“They campaigned on having it in the summer, it is impossible there to have a World Cup in the summer with the temperature, it gets moved to the situation where it is now in the middle of the season.
“Players who spend their whole lives dreaming of playing in a World Cup and now could be [out injured] – as we’ve seen with Son and players all around the world.”
Read More: World Cup 2022: Dates, Schedule, Location, Groups, Tickets, Odds And More
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