AFC chief Al Medlej blasts Qatar 2022 critics

Alam Khan - Reporter 13:19 04/01/2014
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  • Unfair criticism: Medlej unhappy with criticism of Qatar 2022

    Saudi Arabia’s football chief has vented his disappointment at “discrimination” against Qatar following their successful bid to stage the 2022 World Cup.

    Hafez Al Medlej, also chairman of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) marketing committee, has been astonished at the criticism levelled at the Gulf state after they won the right to bring football’s biggest event to the Middle East for the first time.

    While critics have highlighted the size of the country, human rights issues – following a report into the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar – and the heat making it unsuitable for a summer tournament, Al Medlej says World Cup 2018 hosts Russia have escaped despite fears over race-related incidents and fan violence.

    “I’m amazed by the criticism,” he said. “They are all talking about Qatar 2022, but not Russia 2018.

    “If you compare the two, I feel Qatar is much more prepared to host the World Cup than Russia. I don’t like to talk about racismor discrimination, but for me this (criticism) is discrimination.

    “When you pick on Qatar 2022, while there are more obvious problems in Russia or other places and never talk about it, this is not good.

    “It’s our job now to raise our voice in the Gulf and to be heard in Europe and the rest of the world. We don’t expect FIFA or the footballing groups to come to our region and listen to us. But we have to say we are here and we have the seeds to grow a very big project in Qatar.”

    While FIFA have launched a consultation process to discuss switching the 2022 finals from summer to winter, Al Medlej – a guest speakerat last month’s Globe Soccer Conference in Dubai – believes April could be an alternative.

    “It’s a must to change the calendar,” he added. “I don’t think FIFA can call itself the Federation for the whole world if it starts to pick specific areas and not be open to change to allow others to host the World Cup.

    “My suggestion is five years before the World Cup you start moving the leagues in Europe two weeks every year and then in 2022 you will have the league in Europe finishing in March and you can play in April.”

    Al Medlej is also convinced the Gulf nations will get stronger in the coming years to ensure they can compete on the biggest stage of all.

    The UAE, the reigning Gulf champions, have targeted a place in the 2018 finals and Al Medlej – whose country last qualified for Germany in 2006 – said it was important for all the teams to be pushing for their ‘home’ finals.

    He added: “It’s massive to have the whole world coming to this region. It will be a golden opportunity for us to blossom.”

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