“Since we had the honor of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has been the target of an unprecedented campaign that no other host country has suffered,” he said during a speech.
FIFA awarded the World Cup to Qatar in 2010, and tens of billions of dollars have been spent by the emirate to prepare for the event which will take place from November 20 to December 18.
The wealthy gas state, however, is the subject of much criticism over the treatment of foreign workers, the rights of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer) and women, or the use of air conditioning in its eight stadiums, which cost $6.75 billion.
“Initially, we dealt with this subject in good faith, and we even considered that certain criticisms were positive and useful, helping us to develop aspects which should be developed”, declared the emir before the legislative council to Doha.
“But it soon became clear to us that the campaign persists, expands, there is slander and double standards, reaching a level of relentlessness that has left many wondering, sadly, on the real reasons and motivations of this campaign,” he added.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said recently that Qatar’s World Cup, the first to be held in an Arab country, would be the “best ever”.
