Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal hits out at FIFA over staging World Cup in Qatar

Posted Wednesday, March 23, 2022 by Skysports.com

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal says it is "ridiculous" that this year's World Cup is being played in Qatar, accusing FIFA of taking the tournament to the Middle East for money and commercial reasons.

Van Gaal said FIFA's reasons for awarding the finals to Qatar, where his side will be competing in the November and December finals, were spurious.

"Now, everybody knows that I find that ridiculous," he told a news conference on Monday as his side began preparations for friendlies against Denmark and Germany.

"It's ridiculous that we are going to play in a country - how does FIFA say it? - To develop the football there, to develop it better there. That is b******t.

"And how are you doing that? By organising a tournament in that country. But it doesn't matter, it's about money, commercial interests. That's the main motive of FIFA.

Former Manchester United manager Van Gaal said he is part of a commission within the Dutch FA (KNVB) which meets every month to evaluate the ongoing situation in Qatar with regards to human rights.

The KNVB has been among the few football associations to criticise human rights and working conditions in Qatar.

"The KNVB has never been in favour of holding the World Cup in Qatar and of course certainly doesn't approve of the way in which migrant workers are treated there," it said in a statement last year after a visit to the country.

Qatar has faced international scrutiny over the treatment of workers ever since it won the rights in 2010 to host the first World Cup in the Middle East.

Qatar has said the reported deaths were within the expected range for the size and demographics of the population of the workers concerned, and that the mortality rate had consistently declined since 2010 due to health and safety reforms.