British MP ‘concerned’ about 2022 World Cup amid Qatar diplomatic crisis

A British Member of Parliament on Thursday raised concerns about the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar amid diplomatic tensions.

LONDON, United Kingdom (Kurdistan24) – A British Member of Parliament on Thursday raised concerns about the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar amid rising diplomatic tensions.

Labor MP Mark Tami addressed the delivery of projects for the prestigious sporting event, questioning the stability of the Gulf nation.

Several British architect firms are conducting major projects in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup, including Zaha Hadid Architects and AFL Architects.

Tami, who is also vice-chair for the all-party parliamentary British-Qatar group, said that “questions will start to be put over both the World Cup and other construction projects” if the political crisis continues.

“If you’re being cut off, in all sense of the word, by your neighbors then that is not a great advert to go there,” he added.

Tami also pointed to the risk to investments in Doha, especially the construction of football stadiums and infrastructure.

“The longer it goes on, the more people will start questioning, ‘Is this going to happen? Are we going to have some boycott or something by countries taking part?’” he stated.

World football’s governing body FIFA on Monday revealed it was in “regular contact” with the organizing committee of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and other nations cut ties with Doha on Monday, accusing the country of supporting terrorism.

Qatar denied assertions made against it, labeling the decision from its neighboring countries to sever ties “unjustified” and with “no basis in fact.”

The diplomatic row might impact preparations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to Reuters.

 

Editing by G. H. Renaud