These photos and videos raised some questions. We see supporters in the colors of Brazil, Argentina or France roaming the streets of Doha singing songs, but they all seem to come from South Asia. It took no longer for some to question the authenticity of his fans, and the British media went so far as to write that the organizers had paid them to set the mood.
“Fans from all corners of the globe, many of whom call Qatar home, have recently added to the local atmosphere by organizing support marches and parades across the country and hosting various national teams at their hotels. Many journalists and social media commentators doubt they are the real supporters. We categorically reject these claims, which are as disappointing as they are unsurprising,” the tournament’s Supreme Organizing Committee said in a statement on Wednesday, referring to criticism of the country that has intensified as the coup approaches. Shipping Sunday.
Among the approximately 200 Indians (of whom only about twenty are English) who turned out to greet the English choice in front of their hotel in Al Wakra, south of Doha, on Tuesday evening, discussions focused mainly on social media comments and press articles. their “false supporters”. “It’s humiliating and very embarrassing,” said Amin Sharak, an Indian living in Doha and a fan of England.
“I would like to say loud and clear that none of us got paid”
Sajid, 29, says Indians in Qatar are “outraged” at the thought of being paid to take part in a parade on Doha’s waterfront, which was attended by several thousand people dressed mostly in jersey Argentina and Brazil, Friday. “This is pure and simple disinformation and I would like to state loud and clear that none of us were paid in any way,” Sajid said. “We are dedicated England fans. Since childhood, my favorite player has been David Beckham. We have Wayne Rooney fans, Michael Owen fans…”
“It hurt us a lot,” adds Anas, who follows the Premier League “every weekend.” “People just don’t realize the importance of football in Kerala, the southern Indian state where most of the fans are from outside the Three Lions Hotel. During the last World Cup in a provincial town, they even installed a 25-meter effigy of striker Harry Kane!
“We came from India, but they didn’t qualify, so people choose the team they want to root for,” Anas finished. Every morning since it opened in mid-October, dozens of people have lined up in front of the main ticket sales point for a match in central West Bay. Among them are many migrants from South Asia, while the population of Qatar is 750,000 Indians and 400,000 Bangladeshis (out of 2.9 million inhabitants).
Source: Le Parisien
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.
