Qatar World Cup a ‘fitting tribute’ to Arab world’s football passion

The Arab world’s passion for football and Qatar’s ability to host major sport events are unparalleled and it is time for the Middle East to take a stand within the global football community, HE Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Hassan al-Thawadi has said.It is not a ridiculous notion that an Arab nation hosts the FIFA World Cup, he said while responding to a recent statement of Dutch national football team manager Louis van Gaal on Qatar hosting the World Cup. HE al-Thawadi made the observations while speaking to beIN Sports.According to reports, van Gaal felt that the world football governing body’s reason for awarding Qatar the tournament in 2010 was not fair, considering “the way in which migrant workers are treated there”.In reply to a query on van Gaal’s statement that “a World Cup in Qatar is ridiculous”, al-Thawadi said: “For a person who has had many many years and understands the power of football, it is ridiculous that he can actually make such a bland statement. And I’m sure he hasn’t spent a lot of time understanding what football means, not only to Qatar but also to the Arab world.“If he spent a little time looking at the effect of the Arab Cup recently, the passion of the people of the Arab world, what football means to us, I think it’s not a ridiculous notion that an Arab nation hosts the World Cup.”He continued, “It is time for the Arab world and the Middle East to take a stand within the global football community and to be recognised as such. The passion that we have is unparalleled, and you saw it in the Arab Cup.Our ability to host major events as a State is unparalleled, and this is the testimonial of many, many, many people from throughout the world, including from Holland and the Dutch FA (football association), including from people within Europe and the United States, and other, more traditional markets. “They recognise our ability and our readiness. The people who followed the Arab Cup recognise the passion and, I think, plain and simple, the Arab world deserves its right to be in the sunshine, in the spotlight. We have worked very hard to get to this stage, and I don’t think we’ll make any apologies for it.“The world has seen what we were able to do in the Arab Cup as a nation, as an Arab nation, as a Middle Eastern nation, and they will be able to see it – not only just in terms of fans, but also in terms of the many volunteers who will come. They will be very welcoming to the outside world, they will be very welcoming to everybody.”