Qatar World Cup boss: Tournament has ‘changed the perception of this part of the world’ | World News

Qatar World Cup boss Hassan Al Thawadi says the tournament has changed perceptions of the region and transformed his country.

He also insisted that the improvement of workers’ rights after previously “unacceptable” conditions should be recognized.

Al Thawadi told Sky News: “Progress will not end when the final whistle is blown.”

Lusail, the centerpiece of the more than £150bn World Cup project, will host the showdown between Argentina and France to conclude the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.

“This was a celebration of the Arab people, of our culture, of our tradition, of our history,” Al Thawadi said in an interview in Doha.

“People might have come with different opinions.

“And I’ve heard it from many, particularly Europeans, saying that they could have come to support the team, but with fear, a little bit of concern.

“But when they engaged with the Qatari community, when they engaged with the Arab community, when they engaged with hospitality, many of them left with a different opinion, a different point of view.

“And to that extent, it was a platform to bring people together in an unprecedented way.”

Al Thawadi spoke in his only interview on the eve of the final, the culmination of a 12-year journey from winning a bold bid, fending off threats to the tournament from investigations and regional diplomatic instability to the event.

“It changed the perception of this part of the world,” he said. “And it also allowed us to show the best of us.”

But the tragedies and suffering of low-paid migrant workers will always be associated with this World Cup, despite the fact that the tournament is seen as a catalyst for improving labor conditions and rights, including the introduction of a minimum wage.

Al Thawadi said: “The country recognized the need for reforms, because the condition was unacceptable and the laws were laid down.”

There were 414 deaths in the wider infrastructure of Qatar between 2014 and 2020, but only three occurred during stadium construction. But there were two fatalities in accidents at World Cup-linked sites during the tournament.

“There is a worker support insurance fund that will investigate any matter related to unfortunate deaths,” Al Thawadi said. “And that will continue beyond the World Cup.”

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Bringing the World Cup to Qatar put the spotlight on discriminatory laws. There were assurances that LGBT fans would be protected, but some were detained by security and had their hats and rainbow shirts removed.

“Unfortunately, some fans faced problems,” Al Thawadi said.

“I think some of the security people might have made a decision at that point to see what was best, whether it was fearing it would increase tensions inside the stadium or not.”

There is resistance to decriminalizing same-sex relationships in the Muslim nation.

“This is something that is within our religious values,” Al Thawadi said.

“This is something that many countries share the same common values… more community-based values, rather than where the predominant set of values ​​is personal rights.

“I think people are aware that we have differences of opinion. But I think it’s important to stress that we have to find ways to respect each other’s opinions and find a way to move on. And that’s what this World Cup has shown. World”.

There was a brief backlash, particularly from some Europeans, after Qatar banned the sale of alcohol in stadiums two days before the World Cup kicked off.

But the reduced opportunities for fans to drink before matches is credited with creating a more welcoming environment for families and Muslim fans in the region and beyond.

Al Thawadi said: “I think cultural understanding is extremely important in this day and age.

“We are people from different backgrounds, who are people from different communities and different values.

“But I think we have to be able to find ways to express our disagreement with each other.

“But at the same time being able to walk away, having disagreed but not conflicted.

“Having disagreed but respecting the opinion of the other and finding ways to unite and live together.”