Ten thousand French supporters will attend the 2022 World Cup and 300 representatives of the French interior and defense ministries will provide security for the event in Qatar, French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre announced in a television interview on Monday. evening.
Guest of the local sports television channel Al-Kass, Mr. Faivre also wanted to “clarify the French position” on calls for a boycott of the competition, which begins on November 20: “the answer is, of course, no.
France will not boycott the World Cup,” he assured.
Asked about the decision of certain municipalities, including Paris, not to install giant screens to broadcast the matches, the ambassador recalled that they are "independent of the government" and considered that their choice is also explained by the " cold” and the “economic conditions that we live in France”.
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Former players (including Eric Cantona), political leaders and French municipalities have called in recent months for a boycott of the World Cup in the small Gulf emirate, criticized for respect for human rights, in particular migrant workers, and the environment, but without encountering a massive echo.
3.1 million tickets available
The ambassador spoke of "preconceived ideas" about Qatar in France.
"We need more balance, and that's why I'm here today," he continued, before insisting on the quality of the "partnership" between the two states.
"Of course, Qatar is known as an economic partner, and that's true because investments and contracts mean jobs and growth in France, but the relationship between Qatar and France goes much further than that." , he said.
The French group TotalEnergies notably signed two major contracts this year with the emirate for the development of the largest natural gas field in the world, the North Field.
Qatar, which hosts the diplomatic representation of the Afghan Taliban, also acted as intermediaries between them and Western countries during their takeover and evacuations in the summer of 2021. The number of match tickets available for fans and sponsors at the 2022 World Cup is 3.1 million.
France is one of the ten nations that have bought the most tickets, along with Qatar, the United States, Saudi Arabia, England, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Brazil and Germany.
The host country is expecting an influx of over 1 million visitors until the final on December 18.
