FIFA urge teams to focus on football at Qatar World Cup

FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura have requested the teams to focus on football during the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

The global tournament is scheduled to kick off on November 20 with the hosts taking on Ecuador and ahead of this, football’s governing body have urged players to focus on the game.

The World Cup has been shrouded by issues such as the use of low-paid migrant workers to build the infrastructure as well as discriminatory laws that criminalise same-sex relations.

The concerns have been raised by several countries including England and Wales, but FIFA have now told teams to not allow football to be dragged into ‘every ideological or political battle that exists’

Here is the letter as quoted by Sky Sports:

“Please, let’s now focus on the football!

“We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.

“But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.”

Aside from England and Walves, six more countries have plans to wear multi-coloured armbands in response to concerns about Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

The British nations are prepared to defy FIFA’s ban over the same at the tournament and it remains to be seen whether that has any repercussions for the future.

England and Wales have been drawn together in Group B. The Three Lions will be aiming to push for glory after coming short in the semi-finals last time around.

Wales are making their first World Cup appearance since 1958. They won’t have an easy task of getting out of their group which also includes Iran and USA.