DOHA (AFP) -FIFA president Gianni Infantino blasted the “hypocrisy” of Western critics of Qatar’s human rights record on Saturday, making a passionate defense of the World Cup in the Persian Gulf state on the eve of the kick-off.
The build-up to the tournament has been dominated by concerns over Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, and other issues, to the visible annoyance of organizers.
Qatar officials say their country has been the target of “racism” and “double standards” and they point to the reforms on working conditions and safety that have been hailed as groundbreaking in the region.
Football itself again took a back seat on Saturday, with the focus firmly on off-field politics just 24 hours before hosts Qatar were due open the tournament against Ecuador.
Infantino, speaking at his opening press conference of the tournament in Doha, had harsh words for critics of Qatar.