Infantino defender of Qatar, Neuer wearer of the rainbow armband, Darmanin ambassador of France… The news of this Saturday November 19 – Liberation

Find the main information of the day on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar on the eve of the opening match.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino between cynicism and sarcasm

“Today I feel Qatari. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today, I feel handicapped. Today, I feel like a foreign worker.” On the eve of the kick-off of the most criticized World Cup in history, the big boss of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, came this Saturday morning to the media around the world “to talk about the topics that have been on the table in recent months and years, rightly or wrongly”. The Italian-Swiss, during a monologue of a good hour, defended body and soul what will be, according to him, “the best World Cup in history”. Even if it means sometimes putting a good dose of bad faith in a speech marked by moments of frank indecency. The report of our special correspondent in Qatar.

A Doha-focused world

The drawing of the snake having swallowed an elephant in the little Prince de Saint-Exupéry could very well serve as an illustration of Qatar hosting a football World Cup. The emirate, barely larger than Corsica and with a population of 2.9 million, prepared to receive more than a million visitors between the opening match on Sunday and the final scheduled for December 18. Since being awarded the World Cup, Qatar has invested huge sums to guarantee the success of the event, but will it be able to make people forget the criticisms of the deaths of construction sites and its environmental impact? Find here the analysis of our special correspondent in Qatar.

Eventually, there will be no pay for ‘fan leaders’

Who said changing your mind, without notice, was not a right? He is certainly not a Qatari leader. After a surprising and worrying volte-face on the authorization of beer consumption in and around stadiums, Qatar is shamelessly dishonoring another commitment: that of paying a daily allowance of 68 euros for meals and drinks to “fan leaders”, those supporters who are offered travel to Doha, accommodation and access to the opening ceremony, in exchange for enthusiasm and positive content on social networks. Read our article.

Singer Robbie Williams defends his participation in Qatar

«I just wanna feel real love»sang Robbie Williams in 2002. Two decades later, the real cash replaced love. The 48-year-old British singer is determined to perform during the World Cup. In an interview with the Italian newspaper Republican Fridaythe former member of Take That judged that he would be “hypocrite» not to go there. “Of course, I do not endorse any violation of human rights anywhere. […] But, that being said, if we don’t tolerate human rights violations anywhere, then this would be the shortest tour the world has ever seen: I wouldn’t even be able to perform in my own kitchen.” Robbie Williams has come under fire on social media for agreeing to sing during the tournament, including at Doha Golf Club on December 8. Other musicians, including Dua Lipa and Rod Stewart, meanwhile said they would not perform in Qatar.

German captain Manuel Neuer will wear the rainbow armband

The captain of the German selection clearly reaffirmed this Saturday that he will wear the captain’s armband “One love” during the World Cup, in order to promote diversity and inclusion. “We have the support of the leaders of our federation with the president, and we are not afraid” possible consequences, claimed Manuel Neuer, world champion in 2014. The day before, the president of the German federation Bernd Neuendorf had indicated that he was ready to pay possible financial fines. Manuel Neuer praised “the power that this armband represents”, and is delighted that other selections are also in the game. FIFA is not of the same opinion and announced this Saturday that the rainbow armband was not welcome. On the Blues side, captain Hugo Lloris had already announced on Tuesday that he would give up wearing this armband symbolizing the fight against discrimination.

Gérald Darmanin image of France in Qatar

Not sure that’s our greatest ambassador. France will be officially represented at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Doha this Sunday by its Minister of the Interior, said this Saturday the entourage of the boss of Place Beauvau. “At the request of the President of the Republic, Gérald Darmanin will represent the French government at the opening ceremony”. “The Minister will thus attend the opening of the last major sporting event before the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games that France will organize respectively in 2023 and 2024”, specify its services which underline that the minister will visit the gendarmes and the French police officers deployed on the spot.

Tchouaméni, Gavi, Kudus… the six players to follow during the competition

In addition to the stars of the football planet landed in the light in Qatar, several of their teammates should take advantage of the spotlight to reveal themselves to the world. Thirty-two selections, 800 players, and only twenty of them who will lift the FIFA World Cup in Doha on December 18. The 2022 edition will perhaps be the last opportunity to do so for several tutelary figures of the game, such as Messi, Ronaldo, Neuer, Benzema, Cavani or Lewandowski. It could also serve as a springboard for future generations, from early talents to players who hatched late, through those in the prime of life. Here are six that should, in all likelihood, be talked about during this month of competition. Our selection.