‘I love him but this is disappointing’: Robbie Williams faces backlash over ‘Qatar World Cup gig’ amid human rights row
Robbie Williams has come under fire after it was announced he will be performing in Qatar during the World Cup.
The decision by FIFA to hold the World Cup in Qatar has been surrounded by controversy – particularly in relation to migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community.
The singer, 48, who previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, was unveiled as one of the music acts set to play at the Qatar Live concerts during a press conference in Doha.
Backlash: Robbie Williams has come under fire after it was announced he will be performing in Qatar during the World Cup
Robbie is set to play at Doha Golf Club on December 8, alongside Maroon 5 and Post Malone who were also reported to be playing gigs that coincide with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Fans expressed their ‘disappointment’ after learning the news on the Robbie Williams Fanfest page.
One penned: ‘Sorry but the Qatar World Cup is wrong on many levels and I am disappointed that Robbie feels it is acceptable to so blatantly support it.’
Another said: ‘I love him but this is disappointing.’
A third wrote: ‘Hope thats not True’ with another adding: ‘That’s sad, really sad’
Performance: The singer, 48, who previously performed at the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, was unveiled as one of the music acts set to play at the Qatar Live concerts during a press conference in Doha
One asked: ‘How do fans make an official protest? For him to be pressured by his fans to then be persuaded to then choose not to appear would be a massive statement on behalf of all those human beings who are affected by both the construction regime there and also their attitudes in respect of other things. I know nothing about online petitions!
One added: ‘Surely he has a voice/opinion on it…… So disappointing.’
The fan page responded to the comments: ‘We’re just reporting the news as we find it. Rob’s team will have made the decision for him to perform there.’
Robbie’s representatives did not comment when approached by MailOnline.
Fuming: Fans expressed their ‘disappointment’ after learning the news on the Robbie Williams Fanfest page
Qatar has faced intense scrutiny of the physical and contractual conditions for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who were needed in the tiny emirate since the World Cup hosting rights were won 12 years ago.
It’s yet to be seen how much time World Cup broadcasters will spend highlighting the allegations against the Qatari government, which include 2013 claims by The Guardian that workers were denied food, water, and were stripped of their passports.
Some allege they were not paid, or if they were, the payments were minimal and long overdue. A 2019 Daily Mirror investigation found that 28,000 workers were paid roughly $1 an hour over a 48-hour week.
The fan page responded to the comments: ‘We’re just reporting the news as we find it. Rob’s team will have made the decision for him to perform there.’
Most damning, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2015 that over 1,200 workers died building the infrastructure for the tournament. Last year, The Guardian put that figure at closer to 6,500.
Qatar also punishes homosexuality with imprisonment and considers men to be the guardians of their female relatives.
In March, FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed Qatar has been progressive on labor rights: ‘I am pleased to see the strong commitment from the Qatari authorities to ensure the reforms are fully implemented across the labor market, leaving a lasting legacy of the FIFA World Cup long after the event, and benefiting migrant workers in the host country in the long term.’
Awful: Qatar has faced intense scrutiny of the physical and contractual conditions for hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who were needed in the tiny emirate since the World Cup hosting rights were won 12 years ago
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