World Cup 2022: the incredible show of Gianni Infantino

When FIFA boss Gianni Infantino appeared in the amphitheater of the Doha press center for his press conference, his arrival was met with polite silence. 1 hour and 45 minutes later, the same silence followed his departure. But this time it’s not a question of politeness, but rather a certain discomfort in front of an incredible show put on by the Italo-Swiss. First an hour of monologue, then forty minutes of listening to questions, not always answering them.

“I know what it’s like to be discriminated against… I was bullied because I had red hair.”

Infantino began an unexpected speech: “Today I feel like a Qatari, an Arab, an African, a gay, a disabled person, a migrant worker. I know what it’s like to be discriminated against… I was bullied because I had red hair. Quickly, he continued, targeting critics who stigmatize the issue of human rights in Qatar or the issue of foreign workers, blaming Europe and dropping the charge. “What is happening right now is deeply unfair. Reviews about the World Cup are hypocritical. For what we Europeans have done in the last 3000 years, we must apologize for the next 3000 years before giving moral lessons to others. These moral lessons are just hypocrisy. »

The irrepressible head of world football continued: “How many of the big companies making billions in Qatar have decided the fate of migrant workers? None, because changing the law means reducing profits, he continued. But we did it.”

And as for the fate of foreign workers, whose deplorable working conditions, housing, non-payment of wages or confiscation of passports have been observed by many non-governmental associations, Infantino, who lives part of the year in Doha, made a mind-blowing opposite attempt. “In Qatar, these workers earn ten times more than in their country and help their families. And their status is legal because Qatar opens doors for them. And since 2016, there have been moves such as minimum wages or measures to combat the heat. In Europe, migrants are repulsed, and those who manage to disembark are undocumented. I’m having a hard time with reviews. All these lecturers are hypocrites. Thus, according to Infantino, the small Qatari state would be a paradise for the expatriate worker.

Regarding LGBT rights, Infantino assured that the authorities gave him a guarantee that ” all ” was ” welcome. If someone says the opposite, then this is not the opinion of the country and not the opinion of FIFA. » Quite openly, he recalled that when his country, Switzerland, organized the World Cup in 1954, Swiss laws prohibited homosexuality. No one could answer him, even if no Swiss homosexual is in danger of being jailed… “Nevertheless, it should be allowed to be gay in the public space,” he added. But there is a way to go. »

As for the decision taken the day before to ban the consumption of alcohol in stadiums, contrary to what was announced, the FIFA boss turned the jar over without convincing. For him, it has to do with managing audience flows. It’s hard to understand why these “flows” suddenly became a problem 48 hours before the first match. “This is a joint decision by FIFA and the government of Qatar,” he pleads. If you can’t drink alcohol for three hours, I think you can survive. There are many countries that ban alcohol in stadiums, such as France, but since it is a Muslim country, this is a problem. Here again he seems to forget that in France consumption outside the enclosure is allowed and that his comparison is unfounded.

“Don’t criticize the players,” he urged. Leave them. Criticize me, crucify me, that’s why I’m here. “It seems that he did everything for this in almost two hours, when more than once the FIFA president uttered the word ecology …