Through the voice of its emir, Qatar believes “that no other host has suffered” such a flood of criticism for the organization of the competition. But for Jean-Baptiste Guégan, the gas country reaps “also perhaps what it sows”.
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The Emir of Qatar denounced, Tuesday, October 25, a campaign of criticism “unprecedented” against his country over the organization of the Football World Cup in this small Gulf country. Before the consultative assembly of the gas country, Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thani considers “that no other host country has suffered” such a flood of criticism. “It is true that it is a general campaign that is without common measure”, estimated Tuesday on franceinfo Jean-Baptiste Guégan, specialist in the geopolitics of sport. “MBut maybe he reaps what he sows. By dint of looking for the exhibition, we find it and we have to assume”nuance the teacher.
franceinfo: Has Qatar been criticized more than other countries?
Jean-Baptiste Guegan: There is indeed a campaign that consists of pointing out defects that correspond to reality. It is true that it is a general campaign which is without common measure. We have never had such fervor to go and criticize Qatar, but perhaps it also reaps what it sows. By dint of looking for the exhibition, we find it and we have to accept the fact that there are things that are not ultra positive that come out of it.
Can we talk about racism?
It goes further. Perhaps other actors, neighbors of the Gulf, have every interest in criticizing Qatar. This double standard is perhaps also a remark that is intended for the West and ultimately for countries that are relatively close and also for neighbors who have an unfortunate tendency to calm their relations with Qatar and to set up influence strategies to criticize its action and its current influence.
When Russia and China had hosted the Olympics or the Football World Cup, criticism had also been issued?
Yes, voices were raised, starting with the NGOs and most of the media echoed this. But it had never had the same magnitude as today with Qatar. We have a fairly pronounced Qatari obsession and the discourse is objectively and mostly critical, whether on the part of NGOs or the media.