Former member of the government of FIFA and ex-boss of his medical committee, the Belgian Michel d’Hooghe returns, in an interview with the “world”, on the climate question and the inversion of the calendar of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar .
words collected by and
The Emir of Qatar, Tamim Ben Hamad Al Thani, protested, Tuesday, October 25, during a speech before the legislative council in Doha, against the campaign, according to him, “unprecedented” carried out against his country since that the organization of the Football World Cup (November 20-December 18) was entrusted to him on December 2, 2010. “At the start, (…) we even considered that certain criticisms were positive and useful, helping us to develop Aspects that had to be, conceded the emir. (…) But it quickly seemed clear to us that the countryside persists, extends, that there are slander and two weights, two measures, reaching a Rooming level that has led many people to wonder, unfortunately, about the real reasons and motivations of this campaign. “
In criticisms made at the emirate, and the International Football Federation (FIFA), regularly returns the climate issue. In an interview with the world, the Belgian doctor Michel d’Hooghe, 76, former member of the FIFA Executive Committee (1988-2017) and former boss of his medical committee (1988-2022), returns to the non-prone in account of this issue at the time of the ballot and the change of calendar of the tournament which followed. M. d’Hooghe is one of the voters of 2010. He does not wish to evoke this ballot, which he describes as “secret”, just like the suspicions of collusion, which he was laundered in 2015 by the Ethics Committee of FIFA.
Twelve years after the allocation of the 2022 edition of the World Cup to Qatar, do you understand criticism of public opinion?
I am at my eleventh World Cup [as a member of FIFA]. Before each World Cup, there have always been negative comments. In South Africa, in 2010, it was the ghettos of Johannesburg. In 2014, in Brazil, the favelas. In 2018, in Russia, it was distorted anti -doping control. In the West, given everything that happened, there is a kind of apprehension before this World Cup in Qatar. The only answer will be given, once the ball will drive.
I understand criticism, because people do not necessarily judge reality but the perception of reality. There are a lot of things about Qatar, human rights, etc. I have seen the terrible efforts made by Qatar since it was appointed. He knows that now the eyes of the world are on him, and he is forced to make this effort. There are remarks to make but we must also see the progress that has been made.
In relation to its neighbors, Qatar has taken a big step forward, which is perhaps a little due to the designation of the World Cup. People will be surprised. The short distances between stages, ready for a year before the tournament, also constitute a logistical advantage.
You have 70.82% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.