Paris joins boycott of 2022 FIFA World Cup broadcasts from Qatar

Paris joined to several French cities that have refused to create “fan zones” and install huge screens in public places to broadcast matches of the World Cup from Qatar. The authorities of Marseille, Lille, Bordeaux, Reims and Nancy took this decision in protest against human rights violations and the threat to the environment in the Arab state.

“This competition has gradually turned into a human and environmental disaster, incompatible with the values ​​we want to see in sports and especially in football,” said Benoît Payan, mayor of Marseille and head of the coalition of leftists and environmentalists.

Social activists condemned the mistreatment and exploitation of migrant workers at the construction sites of the World Cup in Qatar. In their opinion, it is impossible to support a competition that will be held by a state that violates all humanitarian, environmental and sports standards.

Eric Cantona, a former France international and Manchester United footballer, said he was not going to watch the competition he was looking forward to at all.

“But let’s be honest with ourselves. This World Cup is meaningless. The only point of this event, as we all know, is money,” he said.

Laurent Bodin, a columnist for the newspaper L’Alsace, said the damage had already been done because the championship would take place. He urged human rights activists to be consistent. It is necessary not only to turn off the TV during the competition in Qatar. You should stop following the Paris Saint-Germain team, which is funded by Qatar, and many other clubs, which are heavily sponsored by state-owned Qatar Airways.

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