Manchester United legend blasts Qatar World Cup: Says he won’t watch
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has stated that he will not attend the World Cup in Qatar this winter due to the deaths of construction workers.
The World Cup in Qatar has drawn a lot of criticism, and it all started when it was announced, along with Russia as the 2018 hosts, back in 2010.
More complaints arose when it was revealed that the tournament would have to be moved to the winter to avoid the sweltering summer heat.
There has been concern about how migrant workers in Qatar who have been building the stadiums have been treated, with reports of 6500 deaths during the construction process.
Cantona has now gone in on the hosting of the World Cup in the Middle Eastern country, saying he will not be watching come November.
“To be honest, I don’t really care about the next World Cup, which is not a real World Cup for me,” the Frenchman told the Daily Mail.
“In the last decades, you had a lot of events like the Olympic Games or World Cups in countries that are emerging – like in Russia or China.
“But Qatar – it’s not the country of football. I’m not against the idea of hosting a World Cup in a country where there is a possibility to develop and promote football, like in South Africa or the United States in the 90’s.
“Football is the most popular feminine sport in the United States, there is a lot of South American immigration, and a big potential for the sport to develop.
“In fact, now in the United States, the sport which has the most licensed people is football. But in Qatar, the truth is that there is no such potential. There is nothing. It’s only about money I think.
“It’s only about money and the way they treated the people who built the stadiums, it’s horrible. And thousands of people died. And yet we will celebrate this World Cup.
“Personally, I will not watch it. I understand football is a business. But I thought it was the only place where everybody could have a chance.”
The winter World Cup means that the entire European domestic season will be halted for a few weeks, though players will not be given much time off.
The Premier League’s final round of fixtures will take place on November 13th, with the tournament beginning just eight days later, on November 21st.
The World Cup final will then take place on December 18th, with only an eight-day break before England’s top flight returns for Boxing Day.
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Manchester United legend blasts Qatar World Cup: Says he won’t watch
