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Bangkok, November 17 (EFE) – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that politics should be kept out of sport amid questions raised about Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup, which is due to start in three days.
“I don’t think sport should be politicized,” the head of state told reporters in Bangkok, where he was due to attend the APEC forum.
“Questions of this nature must be asked when the competition is awarded,” he said.
“And whether it’s climate change or human rights, there’s no need to ask when the event will come,” he said.
The French national team are heading into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as defending champions after winning football’s premier prize in Russia four years ago.
FIFA’s decision to award this year’s tournament to Qatar has been the subject of controversy, sparking questions about the wealthy Gulf nation’s treatment of migrant workers, its human rights record and its stance on the LGBT+ community.
Teams such as Denmark and Australia have made statements on Qatar’s human rights record ahead of the tournament.
Macron’s comments on Thursday were in line with a recent statement made by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who asked the 32 participating teams to avoid “drag” football into politics.
Qatar is one of France’s main allies in the Middle East region.
Through its Qatar Sports Investment fund, the gas and oil rich nation also owns French football club Paris Saint-Germain, home to Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.EFE
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