The host nation has been criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers. Earlier this month, world governing body Fifa wrote to competing nations asking them to “now focus on the football” instead of the competition’s controversial build-up.
However, Sepp Blatter, who was Fifa president when Qatar was awarded the tournament in 2010, stoked matters by saying that awarding the tournament to the Gulf state was “a mistake”. With the first game of the finals on 20 November, Caf president Patrice Motsepe has now echoed the support given by Conmebol, the South American football confederation.
SOURCE:BBC
More Stories
With ‘Banel & Adama,’ Ramata-Toulaye Sy Takes Her Place Among Cannes’ Top Names
The Lion Sleeps Tonight: One Song’s Journey from 1930s South Africa to Disney Money-Spinner
Radical Rethinking at Biennale: Africa and the Future Share Pride of Place
Designer Profile: Justin Van Breda
Chef Eric Adjepong Brings African Cuisine Into the Spotlight
Africa’s Most Mesmerizing Lodge Interiors
These Two African Islands are the Underrated Places to Travel this Summer
Five Must-visit Galleries in South Africa that Showcase the Country’s Cultural Tapestry
The Spice Island Unguja – Known to Most as Zanzibar – is a Scent Sensation
These are the Best Airlines on the Continent
The Challenges Facing the New Leader of Africa’s Largest Economy are Simply Enormous
Understanding the Opinions of Africa’s Rising Generation