Macron says ‘must not politicize sport’ ahead of Qatar World Cup

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France's President Emmanuel Macron will go to Qatar if France reach the semi-finals. (AFP)
Avatar image of TRENDS Desk AFP
November 17, 2022 12:37 pm
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  • French president, who will go to Qatar if France reach the semi-finals, said it was "a very bad idea to politicize sport."
  • France begin their defense of the World Cup trophy against Australia on Tuesday before also playing Denmark and Tunisia
Bangkok, Thailand– French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday waded into the controversy around Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup, insisting sport should not be politicized.

“I think we must not politicize sport,” said Macron, whose national team is defending the title they won in Russia in 2018.

“These questions must be addressed when hosting the event is decided,” he told reporters in Bangkok, where he is attending a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

French football captain Hugo Lloris has said he will not join other European captains in wearing an anti-discrimination armband during the tournament, saying he wanted to “show respect” to Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.

Macron, who will go to Qatar if France reach the semi-finals, said it was “a very bad idea to politicize sport”, noting that France will host the Olympic Games in 2024.

The president travelled to Russia in 2018 to see Lloris lift France’s second World Cup title with a 4-2 win in the final over Croatia.

France begin their defense of the World Cup trophy against Australia on Tuesday before also playing Denmark and Tunisia.

 

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