The Prime Minister wrote: “Hats off to Qatar for hosting an incredible World Cup.” The Prime Minister said on social media just minutes before England’s knockout tie with Senegal gets underway in the Qatari capital.
“The group stages will be remembered as one of the all-time greats. Come on England keep the dream alive.”
“Yes hats off to them. All that was required was bribery of 11 FIFA committee members, moving the whole tournament to a new time of year and imposing slavery conditions on migrant workers,” one user said scathingly.
“Which hats? The ones Welsh supporters were told they couldn’t wear because they had a few [sic] too many colours on them?” one user quipped.
“Hard hats maybe?” another chipped in.
In the build up to the tournament, much of the concern around the World Cup focused on the reports that thousands of migrant workers had died as Qatar rushed to build the facilities required to host what is one of the world’s largest sporting spectacles.
A top Qatari official earlier this week said the number of workers who died while building World Cup stadiums for the on-going tournament is ‘between 400 and 500’.Â
The figure is a drastically higher number than any other previously offered by Doha.But in 2021, an investigation conducted by the Guardian reported that 6,500 migrant workers had died since the country was awarded the rights to host the World Cup in 2010 by FIFA.
Despite social media users quickly reminded PM of controversies blighting the event after his tweet, some are more positive, defending Qatari authorities for their efforts.
“Originally from Manchester UK, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar since 2010,” one user said.
“The preparation, trials and organisation that has gone into this event has been immense,” another quipped.
