Qatar to organise ‘special World Cup despite negative headlines’ — Al Khater

DEAD SEA –– Qatar is determined to organise the “best” World Cup despite the negative headlines and rumours over hosting the world’s biggest football event by the Gulf nation, Nasser Al Khater, the media and marketing director of the Qatar organising committee, said on Tuesday.

In an exclusive interview with The Jordan Times Tuesday, Khater said described negative media reports on various issues such as bad treatment of workers and bribery rumours to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup as attacks that would make Qatar stronger to deliver the “best” World Cup.

“We are aware of all the controversies and reports which are written by people who are trying to make us weak and who do not have the absolute truth but this only makes us stronger and determined to organise the best World Cup,” said Al Khater, who was taking part in the Soccerex Asian Forum that was held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre in the Dead Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Of course there are challenges and we are aware of that but we have an excellent plan that will include all aspects of hosting a distinguished World Cup,” he added.

Al Khater dismissed reports regarding deaths of workers in construction sites of stadiums.

“These reports are untrue and baseless. So far we have completed one stadium and only 200 workers are involved in this mission so how come they say hundreds died of poor conditions. Qatar has a proven record of practising the best safety measures whether in gas plants or any other related fields,” he said.

“On the contrary we care about our workers because they will make us proud after the work is done and that is why we provide them with the best conditions and support,” he added.

Meanwhile, and regarding the issue whether to organise the World Cup in summer or move it to winter due to hot temperature during summer, Al Khater said that Qatar would be ready whether in summer or winter.

“We, as a nation, are ready to host it in summer or winter and whatever FIFA decides we will comply. We are building stadiums using the highest technology,” he said. 

Al Khater stressed that the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee name was changed to Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy “due to the fact that the earlier name stats Qatar 2022 which is related to the World Cup but our vision is for what comes after the World Cup and we need to focus on our legacy”.

The Soccerex Asian Forum is held under the patronage of HRH Prince Ali, FIFA Vice President and President of the Jordan Football Association.