It seems certain that Gareth Southgate’s team will send a collective message challenging the attitude of the host country of this year’s World Cup towards the rights of women, the LGBTQ + community and the migrant workers who are responsible for building the 20 stadiums. among many other infrastructures. . “When we were given the briefing, which was very important, it was quite shocking and disappointing,” said the Liverpool captain as he prepared for a role in Southgate’s midfield against Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday. “It’s really scary when you look at some of the issues that are happening right now and have happened there. “As a team we are just digesting this, creating ideas for what we want to do in the future because it is an opportunity to perhaps shed light on issues and use our platforms to make the difference for the better.” Together with Southgate, Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, and Edlin John, its director of international relations, spent 30 minutes on Tuesday delivering detailed information from, among other sources, Amnesty to the team at St George’s Park. “It has caused a lot of controversy among the players,” said the England coach. “The FA has never stopped talking to anyone about these issues. And it would be dangerous for us to tell them what to do about it. they have their own thoughts, their own minds, they are smart people “. Despite his apparent concerns about the human rights landscape in Doha and beyond, Southgate is adamant that boycotting the first World Cup in the Middle East would be pointless. “I do not really know what this achieves,” he said. “It would be a big story, but the tournament would go on. “There are some things that are religious and cultural that will be very difficult to change, but there is still an opportunity to use our voices and our platform in a positive way.” On the contrary, a boycott in England would have achieved nothing, he said. “Unfortunately the biggest issue that is non-religious and non-cultural is what happened with the construction of the stadiums,” Southgate said. “Unfortunately, we can do nothing about it either.” Globalization and geopolitical reality are also at stake. “Is the stand against Qatar as a country?” asked. “Should we protest for a country or a specific issue? If Qatar is a country, we are interconnected. Will we stop shopping at Sainsbury’s? [whose largest shareholder is Qatar Holdings LLC] as a protest? Then there is Shard. There are all kinds of Qatari real estate investments here. We are in such a complex world of agreements as we have seen with Saudi Arabia. “On the one hand, people are questioning their investment in Newcastle, and on the other hand, we are going to Saudi Arabia and asking them to reduce oil prices so that we can get our gasoline cheaper. It’s extremely complicated. “ After pointing out that the time to talk about possible boycotts was when Qatar was awarded the tournament in 2010, Southgate backed the benefits of the commitment. “The [a boycott] it is possible, “he said. “But this is not a decision that the players and I can make. “I hear various versions of this, but I understand that the FA’s discussions with organizations like Amnesty are that they believe that there will be more change if we go and these things are highlighted.” The England coach knows he can not please everyone. “Whatever we do, they will criticize us,” he said. “But we will do our best. There is power in being able to do something – and maybe even with other European nations. “Discussions are ongoing.” Henderson is at the center of many such conversations with teammates and international counterparts. “As a senior player I take a lot of responsibility and I will talk to as many kids as I can, as well as other senior members of the team, and I will come up with something we all think is right,” he said. “And, as the gaffer said, there is the possibility of doing something with other European countries. “Whatever we decide to do will be criticized and it will never be enough, but we do it to try to make a difference in the world. I think everyone knows that we do not support any discrimination. “Football is for everyone.”
