The FIFA World Cup in Qatar kicked off on November 20 and it has already seen a lot of controversy. FIFA and Qatar have been condemned by the Human Rights Watch over reports that migrant workers were paying illegal recruitment fees in the year leading up to the event.
A spokesperson said: “The real legacy of this tournament will be how Fifa, Qatar, and anyone profiting from this World Cup left families of thousands of migrant workers indebted after they died and left many migrant workers who had their wages stolen uncompensated.”
Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ activists have condemned the event being hosted in a country where homosexuality is illegal. Despite backlash even from footballers, many stars have advocated Qatar and agreed to perform there like Robbie Williams and David Beckham, but who has gone against this trend?
Here are the celebrities who have condemned or refused to take part in the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
. Dua Lipa
The famous singer stated she would not go to Qatar unless it "fulfilled all the human rights pledges" it made when it was awarded the right to host the World Cup in 2010. She said: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar, I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform. I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host.” Photo: PA
. Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart revealed recently that he turned down a $1 million deal to play in Qatar. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the Scottish rock singing legend said: “I was actually offered a lot of money, over $1m, to play there 15 months ago, I turned it down. It’s not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms.” Photo: Victoria Jones
5. Ian Hislop
On BBCs 'Have I Got News For You' show on November 4, Hislop (a regular panellist) criticised host Gary Neville's decision to work as a commentator at the World Cup, he said: "the elephant in the room is still there. You're commentating there, aren't you?" Following the ex-footballers defence of his position, Hislop replied: "There's another option: you stay at home and highlight the abuses. You don't have to go away and take the Qataris' money... It's just not a very good defence." Photo: House of Commons
6. Peter Tatchell
Veteran LGBT+ rights activist Peter Thatchell has voiced his complaints of FIFA and their hypocrisy in overlooking Qatar's laws regarding homosexuality. The Guardian report revealed that Tatchell staged a protest against Qatar's criminalisation of LGBT+ people at the National Museum of Qatar this year. He commented that "If a Qatari footballer came out as gay," the player would be "more likely to be jailed than selected for Qatar's national team." He went on to explain how this contradicts Fifa's rules who are doing "nothing about it". Photo: James Manning
7. Melanie C
The Spice Girl has criticised the World Cup being held in Qatar, saying: “It’s greed. They can try and spin it that they’re there to make change, but it’s bullshit – it’s about money,” according to a report by UK's Attitude. The singer also addressed how David Beckham, being a friend of her's, was "difficult" for her as he became the UK's poster boy for the tournament as he bagged a seven-figure deal. She said: "David is a friend, and everybody has to make their own choices.” Photo: via WikiCommons
8. Russell Howard
Comedian Russell Howard dropped a string of criticisms on his show about the Qatar World Cup, from how "it's about money" to denying it being "inclusive" as he spoke of inequality for women in the country. Howard also commented on how it didn't sit right with him that the organisers said they "welcome" gay people while having homosexuality legally banned. He said: “I’d love football to come home but I’d really love Fifa to f*** off, because thanks to their corruption we have a world cup that’s not inclusive.” Photo: PA