Former star footballer David Beckham has drawn strong criticism by promoting Qatar in an advertising campaign for the emirate which will host the 2022 World Cup from November 20. “It’s perfection for me”, proclaims David Beckham, about this country, in videos for Qatar tourism. “It’s an incredible place to spend a few days,” he boasts, before adding: “I can’t wait to take my children there.”
We see in these advertising clips the legend of football on a motorcycle, a boat, in the desert under a tent with men in traditional dress, or even on a spice market. He praises “the mix between modernity and tradition” which creates “something really special”. Since it was appointed in 2010 to organize the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has been the subject of particular attention from human rights organizations, in particular on the working conditions of workers or the situation of minorities. sexual.
According to the British press, this campaign brought in 10 million pounds (11.5 million euros) for David Beckham. The star has been the subject of strong criticism on social networks, in particular from Internet users deploring the fate reserved for the LGBT community in Qatar. The NGO Amnesty International condemned the campaign, highlighting the country’s “appalling human rights record”.
“Beckham’s global fame and status is gold for Qatar’s image, but he should use that image to call on Fifa and the Qatari authorities to address the terrible abuses to which tens of thousands of migrant workers have been subjected. faced when building infrastructure for the World Cup,” said Felix Jakens, one of Amnesty’s UK officers.