"I know what it feels to be discriminated... I was bullied because I had red hair."
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has compared the horrific human rights abuses and discrimination practiced by 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to being bullied for being ginger.
The World Cup is due to kick off tomorrow with the opening fixture between the host nation and Ecuador.
But it's been surrounded by controversy ever since it was awarded to Qatar.
He accused the West of "hypocrisy" in its criticism of World Cup hosts Qatar.
In an extraordinary monologue that lasted an hour!
Infantino told reporters that European nations had no right to hand out "moral lessons".
There are a number of reasons why people think Qatar is an unsuitable venue.
- A scorching desert heat means the tournament is played in winter, disrupting other tournaments.
- The country itself lacks the size and infrastructure to host.
- But, the biggest reason people had to object was Qatar's record on human rights.
Qatar discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community, with homosexuality illegal in the nation and punishable by several years in prison.
It is estimated that thousands of migrant workers have died building the stadiums where the World Cup will be played, with their families still waiting to receive the compensation they are owed.
According to LadBible, Current FIFA president Gianni Infantino has now hit back at the criticism of Qatar in a news conference where he compared the discrimination Qatar enforces to being bullied as a ginger.
He said: "Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker.
"I know what it feels to be discriminated... I was bullied because I had red hair."
He also accused European nations of hypocrisy over moralising about Qatar and claimed that 'nobody cares' about the 'one billion disabled people in the world'.
On the subject of the migrant workers who toiled and died to build the World Cup stadiums, Infantino said they were earning more in Qatar than they would in their home nations.
And if European countries 'really care' about them they'd offer them jobs in their countries instead.
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino also told the assembled media 'don't criticise Qatar', and suggested maybe they could hold a competition in Iran at some point.
