KEIR RADNEDGE in DOHA —- FIFA president Gianni Infantino, on the eve of the World Cup’s Opening Match, launched a full-scale attack on European hypocrisy over Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers.

His hour-long diatribe saw the head of world football’s governing body lay waste to the traditional pretence that sport and politics are unconnected.

A ramble back to his upbringing as the child of migrant workers in Switzerland, sought to position FIFA as friend to all the world through a principle of engagement and patience rather than confrontation.

Here was Infantino’s riposte to incessant criticism of Qatar’s hosting ever since the award in 2010, aroused initially by disgust at old-time FIFA corruption and then fanned by the Gulf state’s slow awakening to a need to respond to concerns over construction safety, working conditions and human rights.

This has all been topped in recent months by noisy western criticism of Qatar’s anti-gay legislation.

Infantino opened by identifying himself with those he perceived as embattled minorities, saying: “Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel a migrant worker . . . because what I’ve been seeing and been told brings me back to my personal story.”

Painful memories

He then recounted childhood memories of how his parents and other Italian migrant workers were treated as second-class citizens seeking work and a better life in Switzerland. Thus he felt justified in addressing “double morals” over the migrant worker issue in Qatar through the prism of his own upbringing.

Infantino said: “After what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3000 years around the world we should apologise for the next 3000 years before giving moral lessons to people.

“How many of these western companies who are making billions out of Qatar have addressed migrant workers’ rights with the authorities? None of them. Because changing the legislation means less profit.”

Infantino quoted a Human Rights Watch study that European migration controls had cost the lives of 25,000 men, women and children since 2014, including 1,200 this year. By contrast, at least Qatar had offered a welcome and work to migrant workers “who can earn far more than in their home country and help their families to survive.”

Closed borders

He added: “In Europe we close our borders and don’t allow practically any workers from these countries [in south-east Asia]. Here in Qatar there are things that don’t work and need to be addressed but this moral lesson-giving is one-sided, it is just hypocrisy.

“Why does nobody recognise the progress which has been made since the kafala was abolished in 2016, heat protection measures were taken? . . . The only way of obtaining results is by engagement and dialogue, not by hammering, insulting.”

FIFA had created a legacy fund which would continue in operation long after the World Cup had moved on and removed media interest with it.

In the meantime Infantino had a financial message for critics who claimed a lack of interest in the Qatari Cup.

He said: “We have been selling media rights for this World Cup – which is shorter than any other – for 200m more than the last Cup. We have also sold sponsorship rights for around 200m more than the last Word Cup and 2/300m more already in ticketing.

Revenues up

“We have overall revenues of 6/700m more than any other World Cup. They invest because they have seen what FIFA has done to clean up the organisation.”

Infantino, on that basis, reiterated his appeal for media to abandon pursuit of players and coaches over political issues.

He concluded: “Let them concentrate on making their fans happy. If you want to criticise someone then crucify me because I am here for that and responsible for everything.

“We have 32 great teams – 33 with the referees. Let’s please celebrate and hope that we can give some smiles to people around the world.”

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