What it probably did not expect was that the BBC would ignore the entire event in favour of a broadcast criticising the treatment of migrant workers, highlighting corruption at Fifa and discussing the ban on homosexuality in Qatar.
Also, the decision six years ago to switch the World Cup from summer to winter.”.
He concluded: “Against that backdrop, there’s a tournament to be played – one that will be watched and enjoyed around the world.
The BBC declined to explain why it had shunted coverage of the opening ceremony – traditionally an opportunity for host countries to project soft power around the world – to an online-only stream.
At the same moment, BBC One viewers were watching the presenter Ros Atkins introduce an interview with Amnesty International and state: “We’ve never seen a World Cup with a carbon footprint like this before.”.
Even the former footballers brought in to analyse the actual sport for the BBC broke down any pretence that politics should be kept out of football.
The former England international Alex Scott mocked Fifa’s chief, Gianni Infantino, for suggesting he could feel solidarity with migrant workers and the expense of attending the World Cup. »
