World Cup 2022: Workers in Gulf state are united in wanting tournament to happen, says Gareth Southgate

CNN
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England team manager Gareth Southgate there’s a lot on his plate like World Cup In Qatar grow closer than ever. He is trying to turn around an English football team that is in its worst form since 1992, while facing a growing injury list. All of this as he prepares for the first World Cup to be held mid-season.

Furthermore, this is a World Cup – which starts on 20 November – that has been affected by a number of human rights issues.

The Guardian reported last year that 6,500 migrant workers were killed in the country in the 10 years after Qatar successfully hosted the tournament in 2010, most of them low-wage, labour-intensive jobs. dangerous, often working in extreme hot conditions.

The report – categorically denied by tournament organizers – does not connect all 6,500 deaths to World Cup infrastructure projects and has not been independently verified by CNN.

Qatar is also the object of criticism for anti-LGBTQ legislation.

However, Southgate believes the World Cup should go on and says that view is shared by workers in Qatar with whom he spoke.

“I went to Qatar a few times and met a lot of workers there and they agreed on one thing that they want the tournament to happen, and they want it because they love football. They want football to come to Qatar,” Southgate told CNN’s Amanda Davies.

However, the England coach is unlikely to remain silent on the human rights issues that have plagued Qatar ahead of the World Cup.

“As a FA, we have talked to human rights groups about what they would like to see, and we are trying to support those ideas with compensation for families who lost their jobs,” says Southgate. employees and a center to protect workers’ rights. “So we’re supporting things that we’ve been asked to support.”

In June, England captain Harry Kane revealed that he had discussed his collective stance regarding human rights in Qatar with Denmark’s Christian Eriksen and France captain Hugo Lloris.

The countries of the three captains, along with five other countries, will all participate in the “OneLove” campaign promoting inclusion and combating discrimination and will wear a special OneLove captain’s armband. has a heart shape containing colors from every background – throughout the tournament.

Qatar’s government has spoken out against the criticism the Gulf state has faced.

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani recently told Qatar’s Shura Legislative Assembly that his country “is facing an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced”.

“We initially addressed the issue in good faith, and even considered some of the criticism positive and helpful in helping us develop the areas of our development that needed to be developed.

“But we quickly realized that the campaign’s tendency to go on and on and expand to include fabrications and double standards was so intense that it unfortunately led many to question the reasons and motives. really behind this campaign,” he said.

If the legacy of the World Cup in Qatar – for now – remains unclear, Southgate said, “In the years to come, I know that I will look back and think what a life experience and what a wonderful thing it was.

“I mean, in the end, football is everything. That’s why we’re there. That’s what we’re there to do. ”

On England’s chances of winning the World Cup, Southgate said: “There are some complications with the way some of our key players play regularly. There will be injuries ahead of the tournament and how will that affect us? Looking further ahead is pointless, but of course we’ll get nowhere in the end if we don’t try to get it. ”

Becoming England’s head coach is often seen as a “mission impossible”, but Southgate has fulfilled his role quite well, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and then the Euro 2020 final.

Southgate on the 2018 World Cup: “There were more expectations than when we went to Russia.
“But whenever you wear the England shirt, there is always pressure. The incredible heights you reach leading your country to those great nights will always be balanced with hard and uncomfortable times, and you have to get through that.”

“You have to put your best players on the pitch in a way that can bring out their full potential. And then, of course, you have to deliver in the tournament. That’s where you will always be judged as an international manager. ”

On their World Cup chances, Southgate added: “There is some complexity with the way some of our key players play regularly. There will be injuries ahead of the tournament and how will that affect us? Looking further ahead is pointless, but of course we’ll get nowhere in the end if we don’t try to get it. ”