GRAEME SOUNESS and Roy Keane had a debate doing punditry work for ITV. The debate was about Qatar the World Cup hosts and Ireland was used a reference point.
Qatar in the middle east have come under fire from human activists for its stance against same sex marriage and its treatment of migrant workers.
Thousands of people have died building new stadiums ahead of the World Cup, while homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
The debate has rumbled on for some time and today ex-Liverpool player Souness and former Ireland captain Keane had their say on the matter.
Before the Saudi Arabia and Argentina game, Souness started the debate by saying: "They'll be praying that the football will make it a great tournament and people won't be talking about [sportswashing and human rights issues] going forward.
"But I'm afraid, you know, there are so many activists out there that they will forever be talking about Qatar and their human rights record," began Souness.
"The World Cup shouldn't be here, you've got a country and the way they treat migrant workers, gay people. We're on about spreading the game but dismissing human rights, it's not right. It shouldn't be here."
Powerful words from Roy Keane about the World Cup in Qatar pic.twitter.com/lAUbItPC0Z— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 22, 2022
"That's a fact of life. They have to deal with that, and by having a World Cup here, they have a chance to make certain things right, but they are not going to do everything right."
Keane added, “The World Cup shouldn’t be here. It’s been mentioned about the corruption regarding FIFA. But the way they have treated migrant workers and gay people
“That needs to be brought up. They shouldn’t have the World Cup; you can’t treat people like that… We all love football and we’re on about spreading the game, but to just dismiss human rights like this is not right.
“It shouldn’t be here,”
Souness then used Ireland's past history with England as a reference point He pointed out the hypocrisy of western nations like England pointing the finger.
"Can I just say we’re not perfect as well in our history. We’re not perfect," said the Scot.
“You know the British haven’t been perfect in many parts of the world and including in Roy’s country. We’ve been far from perfect.”
The human rights debates haven't gone away and are only going to increase as the tournament goes on.
One of these debates has been around the Onelove armband
This week captains from the like of Germany, England, Wales, the U.S and other countries claimed they were going to wear the armband in solidary with the LGBTQ+ people in Qatar.
Yesterday Keane was said ahead of the Wales USA game 'that the decision not to wear the 'Onelove' armband was a mistake'
Before England's game against Iran, England captain Harry Kane said that he would be wearing the armband.
That never happened due to threats from FIFA
Keane was not impressed with the U-turn towards the symbolic gesture
"I think the players could have done it for the first game," Keane said ahead of USA vs Wales on Monday evening.
"They should have taken the punishment – whatever that might be. Kane might have been risking getting a yellow card if that was the punishment. But that would have been a great statement.
"Do it for the first game. If you get your yellow card, what a message that would have been from Kane or Bale.
"Take your medicine, and in the next game you move on. You don't wear it [again] as you don't want to be getting suspended."
"But I think [not wearing the armband] was a big mistake.
"I think both players, and we are talking about Wales and England here, should have stuck to their guns and done it – whatever pressure from outside or from your own associations. Have the belief, if that's what you believe, then go with it."
Roy Keane has his say on the OneLove 🏳️🌈 armband debate...pic.twitter.com/WP38Fvj4rc
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 21, 2022
