"Today I feel like a migrant worker": FIFA President Infantino with shocking statements

Created: 11/19/2022 10:37 am

By: Antonio Jose Riether

Just a day before the 2022 World Cup, Gianni Infantino sneered at migrant workers in Qatar and accused Europe of “double standards”.

Doha - With the Soccer World Cup, one of the most important sporting events is in the starting blocks.

Before the opening game on Sunday, however, the anticipation in many countries is very limited.

In Europe in particular, people are rather concerned about the event, for which thousands of migrant workers have lost their lives on construction sites in recent years.

One day before the start of the World Cup, FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino are trying to ward off any criticism.

The Swiss shocked on Saturday with mocking statements.

World Cup 2022: FIFA boss Infantino with incredible statements - "Knows what it's like to be discriminated against"

At a press conference in the Qatari capital Doha, FIFA boss Infantino showed again why the world football association is denied any connection to reality.

Echoing allegations of discrimination and oppression against minorities and women in the host country, the 52-year-old said: "I know what it's like to be discriminated against.

I was bullied because I had red hair."

Already Infantino's statements at the opening of his speech at the press conference caused astonishment.

“Today I feel very strong feelings, today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African.

Today I feel homosexual.

Today I feel disabled, today I feel like a migrant worker," said the controversial official.

World Cup 2022: Provocative Infantino press conference - "FIFA takes care of the workers"

But that's not all, because Infantino also had a message for the European countries in view of the loud criticism against the general conditions of the tournament.

“How many of these Western companies that are receiving billions from Qatar here – how many of them have spoken out about migrant workers' rights?

None of them,” said Infantino, although he didn't give any examples.

“Who takes care of the workers?

Who?

FIFA does it, football does it, the World Cup does it – and, to be fair, Qatar does it too,” said the FIFA boss.

On the other hand, FIFA and the Qatari government continue to dispute the number of deaths among migrant workers, which according to media reports ranges between 6,500 and 15,000.

Gianni Infantino has been President of FIFA, the world governing body, since 2016.

© Grigory Sysoev/imago

World Cup 2022: FIFA boss Gianni Infantino accuses "hypocritical" Europeans of "double standards".

He also called the "way" of the critics from Europe "one-sidedly wanting to teach lessons" as "hypocrisy".

He does not understand why progress in Qatar is not recognized.

Qatar had introduced at least superficial reforms with the official abolition of the kafala system and increased worker protection, but implementation is reportedly lacking.

Repression is still part of everyday life in the emirate, and despite the reforms there is still no freedom of expression.

also read

Iran coach freaks out at WM-PK: "How much are you paying me for the answer?"

Half a beer at the World Cup in Qatar costs as much as a whole crate in Germany

Germany's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

View photo gallery

Infantino, who even moved his residence to Qatar earlier this year, went on to say: "I think what we Europeans have done worldwide for the past 3000 years, we should apologize for the next 3000 years before we start, moral distributing advice to others”.

A day before the opening game, he was "sad" to have to experience this "double standard".