Gays Are “Damaged In The Mind” Comment Has Former FIFA President Admitting Qatar Was A Bad Choice For The World Cup
Qatar was announced as the host of the FIFA World Cup 2022 back in 2010, and as the game draws closer, many are expressing their disapproval of that choice. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has admitted that Qatar is a bad choice of host in comments to Swiss media company Tamedia on Tuesday, November 8, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
Those comments seem well-founded. Khalid Salman, Qatar’s ambassador for the World Cup, has called homosexuality a “damage in the mind” in an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF, adding that he has a problem with children seeing gay people.
FIFA BATTLES CONTINUED PRESSURE OVER DECISION
Since the announcement in 2010, FIFA has battled with controversy over the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Blatter was the president at the time and held this position for 17 years; during his tenure he maintained relations with smaller soccer federations by ensuring funding and support continued.
Although FIFA persists as a behemoth of the sporting world, the soccer governing body has suffered a handful of scandals and investigations including those regarding FIFA’s support of Russia’s bid for the 2018 World Cup and Qatar’s bid for the 2022 games, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
Blatter found himself under investigation for corruption and, in 2015, he stepped down from his position as president. Blatter has since been acquitted of corruption charges, but he had yet to provide quotes on any of FIFA’s controversial decisions while he was helming the organisation until now.
“It was a bad choice, and I was responsible for that as president at the time,” says Blatter apropos to Qatar hosting the World Cup. “It’s a country that’s too small… Football and the World Cup are too big for that.”
Blatter maintains his stance that the votes for Qatar were influenced by Nicolas Sarkozy, then president of France, who had made agreements with crown prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Blatter claims that Mr Sarkozy pressured president of the European soccer body, Michel Platini into changing his votes in favour of Qatar during the final Paris voting rounds, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
Qatar is a controversial choice of host for FIFA considering the many human rights violations the nation are accused of including labour conditions. Furthermore, Qatar’s stance against LGBTQIA+ communities has been stated and affirmed by officials who claim all are welcome, but must follow the laws of the country.
