Qatar’s emir slams ‘unprecedented’ World Cup criticism

By Ahmed Youssef
DOHA, Qatar (AA) – Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said Tuesday his country has faced an “unprecedented campaign” of criticism over the hosting of World Cup 2022.

“Since we won the honor of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced,” Emir Tamim said in a speech to the Shura Council.

“We initially dealt with the matter in good faith, and even considered some of the criticism as positive and useful in helping us to develop aspects of ours that need to be developed,” he said.

“But it soon became clear to us that the campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign.”

The Qatari ruler termed the World Cup as a “great test for a country the size of Qatar that impresses the whole world with what it has already achieved and is achieving.”

“We accepted this challenge out of our faith in our potential to tackle the mission and make it a success, and due to our awareness of the importance of hosting a major event such as the World Cup in the Arab world,” he added.

Qatar will host World Cup from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. The Gulf nation will be the first Arab country to host the global event and the third in Asia after South Korea and Japan.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report