David Beckham ‘puts money before morals’
TV star Robert Rinder has condemned David Beckham for striking a £10million deal to promote the World Cup despite Qatar’s appalling discrimination against women and gay people.
The Good Morning Britain presenter, known as Judge Rinder, also called the decision to stage the major tournament in the oppressive Middle Eastern nation a “shame”.
Slamming the former England star for putting ‘money before morals’ in accepting £10million to block the World Cup, Mr Rinder told the Mail on Sunday that nations should not be allowed to use the sporting events to “clean up” their reputation.
Mr Rinder, 44, who is gay, also condemned Qatar’s treatment of migrant construction workers, thousands of whom are believed to have died building stadiums for the tournament which begins next month.
Good Morning Britain presenter Robert Rinder (pictured) has condemned David Beckham for putting ‘money before morals’ by accepting £10m to promote the World Cup in Qatar
David Beckham (pictured with wife Victoria yesterday) has agreed to a multi-million pound deal to promote the event despite Qatar’s appalling discrimination against women and gay people
He said: “There should be basic requirements before you are entitled to [host] them, and it’s not just about LGBTQ people. It’s about the 6,500 workers who died, it’s about Beckham’s daughter Harper not being able to continue her education [if she was Qatari] without the permission of a male relative.
He said he didn’t believe Qatar would fix its abhorrent human rights laws – which include three-year prison sentences for homosexuality – just because of the World Cup.
The Spurs fan said ‘we know from history’ that nations don’t improve their records after hosting such events, citing the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and Russia which hosted the last World Cup.
Mr Rinder, 44, pointed out that David Beckham’s daughter Harper (pictured with her father and brother Cruz) would not be able to continue her education if she was Qatari without the permission of a male relative
The former England captain has released a promotional video describing the Middle Eastern nation as ‘perfection’. Pictured riding a motorbike through the streets of Doha
“It’s tragic that we are about to have the World Cup in Qatar,” he said. “We have to do our best, all of us, to highlight all the issues that I am talking about. You can’t stick your head in the sand.
“You know it’s about the money, not the purity or the love of the game. What a tragic moment this is.
Last year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Beckham, 47, had signed the Qatar deal. Last month, the former England captain released a promotional video describing the Middle Eastern nation as “perfection”.
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