FIFA President says 'I feel African, gay, disabled and migrant worker' in bizarre speech

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino spoke for an hour on criticism of Qatar on the eve of the World Cup in a speech which has been dubbed "beyond parody" by raging fans on social media

Posted Sunday, November 20, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been slammed for his shocking "I feel African, gay, disabled and migrant worker" speech.

The chief of the game's governing body hit back at criticism of Qatar from European nations in a press conference on the eve of the World Cup. Both the event and FIFA have been attacked in the build-up to the tournament for the decision to host it in Qatar, where the rights of migrant workers and LGBTQ+ people have overshadowed football.

And in an extraordinary monologue in Doha, Infantino spoke for nearly an hour while making an impassioned defence of Qatar and the tournament.

He opened his press conference speech with: "Today I have very strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel Gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel like a migrant worker.

"We have been taught many many lessons by Europeans. I am European. I think what we Europeans have been doing around the world for the last three thousand years, we should be apologising for the next three thousand years before giving moral lessons to people."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke for an hour about criticism of the Qatar World Cup

After comparing being a red head to other marginalised groups, Infantino finally ended his hour-long press conference with an instruction to journalists not to criticise the host nation, saying: “If you need to criticise anybody, don’t put pressure on the players, the coaches.

"You want to criticise. You can crucify me. I’m here for that. Don’t criticise anyone. Don’t criticise Qatar. Let people enjoy this World Cup."

His wild speech prompted some hilarious digs from stunned football fans on Twitter, with one writing: "I’ve found where all the missing Budweiser has gone."

Another mocked: "Today I feel so triumphantly tone deaf all your ears will bleed" and "Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Probably the worst speech I've heard in my entire life..."

A fourth tweeted: "There’s only so much he could’ve said to make people feel even worse about this tournament, and in spectacular fashion he’s managed to achieve it. That’s some going."

Others chimed in by adding: "Beyond parody" and "Never go full Infantino."

The World Cup will kick-off on Sunday 20 November when Qatar take on Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium.