What if Erling Haaland, the 20-year-old Norwegian scorer from Borussia Dortmund, misses the next World Cup in Qatar next year?
We are not there yet, but this possibility could take shape, even if the Scandinavian selection were to cancel their ticket to the Emirate in the fall of 2021. Shocked by the recent revelations of the Guardian, which estimates that 6,500 workers have died on the construction sites of the 2022 World Cup, the Norwegian clubs are pushing for a boycott of the competition by their selection.
Gathered Thursday evening during their annual council, 16 professional clubs have, according to the Norwegian channel TV 2, thus voted in favor of a boycott of the competition by their selection (202 votes).
A motion was tabled, but was not adopted due to the veto of the representatives of Rosenborg (46 votes against).
The Norwegian federation is due to rule on this on March 14.
Norway is due to start against Gibraltar on March 24 its qualification course for the 2022 World Cup.
3 ... 2 ... 1 ... kickoff!
🚀 pic.twitter.com/4t0ANIRLq9
- Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland) February 23, 2021
Haaland's side, Monsieur (almost) one goal per game - 43 goals in 45 games for Dortmund in all competitions - will then play against Turkey on March 27, and against Montenegro on March 30.
With his national team, the young bomber has six goals in seven selections.
A boycott could lead the team to be disqualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Figures disputed by Qatar
Over the past ten years, Qatar has embarked on an ambitious construction program (airport, roads, public transport, hotels, new town, etc.), largely linked to the organization of the world, according to The Guardian.
The British newspaper believes that it is "likely" that a large part of these deaths are linked to these projects.
But only 37 workers among the 6,500 are said to have died on the construction sites of the World Cup stadiums.
Of which 34 are not considered as work accidents by the local organizing committee.
Figures questioned by several experts.
According to the Qatari government, the death toll is proportional to the number of immigrant workers present in the country and "includes white collar workers who have died of natural causes after living in Qatar for many years," writes The Guardian.