Zurich ∙ When the World Cup starts in Qatar, the football game should be the focus and political and ideological differences should not overcome it, advises FIFA, the international football governing body. The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino and the Secretary General Fatma Samoura have requested this by letter to the 32 countries that participate in the World Cup.
In many areas, the opinion was raised that discrimination against migrant workers in Qatar and that the criminalization of homosexuality was unacceptable. As part of the campaign against discrimination, the captains of 8 European teams decided to wear armbands with a heart symbol. Denmark has also been controversial when it decided to wear black shirts in solidarity with the workers who died during construction work in Qatar.
The World Cup opens at 7.30pm
Doha: Time change for World Cup opening ceremony. The opening ceremonies will begin at 7:30 pm IST on the 20th. However, there is no change in the time of the opening match between Qatar and Ecuador, which is to be held at a later date. Kick off is at 9.30 PM IST.
English Summary: FIFA writes to teams and says ‘focus on the football battle not ideological or political that exists
