The Qatar 2022 World Cup has become a subject ripe for a doctoral thesis, particularly concerning accusations of slavery and the response from the UAE gas giant. Notably, FIFA President Joseph Blatter has emerged as a unique figure in this controversy, defending Qatar against Western media criticism.
During a gathering of the Asian Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Blatter strongly denounced the “attacks and criticisms” from European media against Qatar, asserting that such criticisms are unfair. He received thunderous applause when declaring that the World Cup would proceed as planned in Qatar in 2022.
Blatter’s recent statements contrast with his earlier remarks, where he acknowledged France and Germany’s support for hosting the tournament in Qatar and defended the involvement of large European companies in the region. However, just two days before, Blatter had deemed the situation of workers building the World Cup stadiums in Qatar as “unacceptable.”
This contradiction has raised eyebrows, especially considering Blatter’s plans to run for his own succession as FIFA president in 2015. With Africa and Asia holding significant voting power in FIFA elections, Blatter’s supportive stance on Qatar aligns strategically with securing favor from these continents.
The controversy surrounding the treatment of workers in Qatar has prompted international attention, with Amnesty International labeling the exploitation of immigrant workers as “alarming.” Qatar, in response, has pledged to respect workers’ rights on World Cup construction sites by amending labor legislation and empowering inspectors.
In the backdrop of these developments, Blatter’s nuanced position and the dynamics surrounding his bid for re-election have added complexity to the ongoing debate about Qatar 2022.
