Judge Rinder condemns David Beckham for putting ‘money before morals’ in his Qatar World Cup promotion
Robert Rinder and David Beckham
Judge Rinder has slammed David Beckham for putting “money before morals” in his promotion of the Qatar World Cup.
Robert Rinder, has said the decision to hold the tournament in Qatar is a “disgrace”, and has voiced his concerns after the former England captain accepted £10 million to promote the World Cup which starts next month.
The Good Morning Britain presenter said that nations should not be allowed to use sports events to “cleanse” their reputations, he told The Mail on Sunday.
Rinder also condemned Qatar’s treatment of migrant construction workers, many of whom died while building stadiums for the World Cup.
“There should be basic requirements before you are entitled to [host] them, and that’s not just about LGBTQ.
“It’s about the 6,500 workers who died, it’s about the fact that Beckham’s daughter Harper would not be able to continue with her education [if she was Qatari] without the permission of a male relative,” he explained.
David Beckham has been accused of ‘taking money and looking the other way’ in regards to Qatar’s persecution of the LGBTQ+ community. (Getty)
The 44-year-old cited the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Russia hosting the last World Cup, and said he is doubtful Qatar will change its human rights laws as “we know from history” that host nations haven’t improved their records after staging such events.
“We need to do the best, all of us, to highlight all of the issues I’m talking about. We can’t bury our heads in the sand.
“You know this is about money, not about the purity or love of the game. What a tragic moment that is.”
‘Embarrassment and whitewash’
The decision to host the game in Qatar has been hit with huge criticism as the country’s penal code continues to punish same-sex relations with up to seven years imprisonment, while queer Muslim men, under Sharia law, can be punished with the death penalty.
David Beckham has not commented on the negative response to his work promoting Qatar.
Women are also subjected to discrimination under the country’s archaic laws which require them to seek permission from male guardians for key life decisions – such as to study abroad or marry.
Ahead of the tournament, the Football Association (FA) has offered words of assurance to its LGBTQ+ fans, who it insists will not face arrest for holding hands or kissing.
But LGBTQ+ rights activist Peter Tatchell told PinkNews he believes the FA are “gullible” to believe any assurances given.
Tatchell said the FA’s statement ahead of the World Cup completely ignored restrictions on women’s rights, and neglects to comment on the issue of migrant workers.
“It neglects to mention unpaid wages, overcrowded slum hostels, workers who still cannot change jobs and are forced to pay illegal recruitment fees and that those who protested were recently arrested and deported. This statement is an embarrassment and whitewash.”
David Beckham first faced backlash when he promoted Qatar as a “perfect” tourist destination, despite it being one of the most dangerous places in the world to be LGBTQ+.
Following this gay Qatari Dr Nas Mohamed accused Beckham of blocking him on Instagram after he begged him to stand up for LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
