Eric Cantona has blasted David Beckham and those promoting this winter’s Qatar World Cup, judging their support as a “big, big mistake”.
The Frenchman has long been outspoken against Qatar 2022, labelling it “horrible” and “not a real World Cup”, as he believes this year’s tournament is only about money.
Now, as well as stating that he will not be watching it out of principle, the 56-year-old has given his thoughts on former teammate Beckham and co.
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Cantona was asked if this is something he would ever do, to which he had a fairly simply answer: “I would not do it at all. I [would] do completely the opposite.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Harking back to his previous condemnation earlier this year, the Manchester United legend said that although he and any ex-players are obviously met with the opportunity for paid partnerships like this on a regular basis, he believes the backdrop to this tournament is simply unjustifiable.
Eric Cantona is boycotting the World Cup in Qatar and says he thinks David Beckham and others who promote it have made a big mistake.
Addressing the ambassadors themselves, he said that “it could be they don’t know what has happened there. Or, if they know it, I think they did wrong”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Either way, he believes their decision to sign on the campaign is “a big mistake. A big, big mistake.” Becks has undoubtedly been the biggest face promoting Qatar 2022.
Like many, Cantona made his feelings on the Qatar World Cup crystal clear back in January when he reflected on what went into putting this particular tournament on.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s only about money and the way they treated the people who built the stadiums, it’s horrible. And thousands of people died”, he told the Mail; “I understand football is a business. But I thought it was the only place where everybody could have a chance.”
The Gulf nation has been flagged by the likes of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for numerous abuses, including exploiting migrant workers to build the stadiums needed for Qatar 2022.
In addition to numerous low-paid workers dying on the job, women’s rights and freedom of expression are all infringed upon. Moreover, members of the LGBTQ+ community are also persecuted, with same-sex sexual conduct still illegal as it is across much of the Middle East.
While several countries like Norway and numerous members of the Welsh national team attempted to boycott the Qatar World Cup, it seems opposition wasn’t unified enough and we’re now just 55 days from the first game.
Nevertheless, all eyes will be on this year’s tournament regardless of the football.
Manchester United fans planning another major protest amid more upheaval around the club
Danny Jones
Manchester United supporters look set to stage another high-profile demonstration in protest against the INEOS Sports ownership group.
This is the latest response to the club’s continuing struggles, and not just the first proper organised mobilisation of the year, but the first since the most recent major march last spring.
Following the sacking of ‘manager’ Ruben Amorim, despite co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and his board of executives insisting that the Portuguese head coach (that distinction proving to be a crucial detail), the local sporting giants are once again starting from scratch and looking for another replacement boss.
With that in mind, militant fan group The 1958 announced their most recent protest ahead of a home fixture next month in a rather bold fashion…
As announced we protest against this dysfunctional co-ownership before Fulham.
Yep, neither Amorim, Erik ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, nor any face even remotely associated with Old Trafford/Carrington is safe from an AI parody.
As for The 1958 group’s actual protest plans, speaking via the BBC this week, the supporters’ trust has confirmed that they will be making a vocal statement outside the stadium on Sunday, 1 February.
Travelling Reds already made their thoughts known with a very blunt, provocative and somewhat controversial banner in the away end at Turf Moor for the 2-2 draw against Burnley.
With Man United approaching a third-round FA Cup tie against Brighton and two big games in the form of a Manchester Derby at home and a trip to Arsenal, they have decided to choose the Fulham game at Old Trafford to stage the march.
Despite admitting that the results under Amorim were no way near good enough, they insist that the – most notably the overarching and Glazer family shadow ever looming over the organisation.
Further details around the actual timings and locations are still yet to be shared by the organisers, but you can expect this to be a well-attended, large-scale event.
Often convening at The Tollgate pub near regular matchday tram stop, Trafford Bar, before walking down Talbot Road towards the ground itself, we imagine Reds will then descend upon the Theatre of Dreams in their thousands.
In case you didn’t already surmise from the video itself, Ratcliffe and co. will be no doubt the subject of the usual chants, as well as more banners and flags.
What do you make of the latest plans, Man United fans?
Nothing will ever be quite as bold as the infamous Old Trafford break-in from 2022 (Credit: The Manc)
More Greater Manchester football matches called off as Storm Goretti sets in
Danny Jones
Yet more scheduled football matches in Greater Manchester and the surrounding regions have been postponed and/or cancelled due to Storm Goretti.
The increasingly cold, blustery and icy conditions moving over from France and across more parts of the UK have already caused schools to close, flights to be grounded, and plenty more disruption.
Another such inconvenience has come in the form of live sports, large swathes of which now look like they simply won’t be taking place.
One of the latest to be called off is Salford City‘s upcoming game against Swindon Town in the FA Cup this weekend, with various other games involving teams up and down the footballing pyramid now facing uncertainty over whether their third-round fixtures will go ahead as planned.
Ironically, this is just the tip of the iceberg, if you’ll pardon the very obvious pun.
Another game that was called off late last week, between Chadderton and FC Isle of Man, is yet to be rescheduled; the same is true of Rochdale AFC’s meeting with Brackley Town, Radcliffe v Oxford City, as well as games involving Bury, Stockport Town, Irlam, Cheadle Town, Prestwich Heys and more.
Other nearby outfits, such as Chorley, Warrington Rylands and Ramsbottom United, just to name a few, are also still unsure of when their next game will be.
In many cases, it is simply a matter of the grounds being largely or completely frozen and deemed unfit for use following pitch inspections.
Oldham Athletic – which has already been hit with plenty of snow and frost – yesterday confirmed that their Notts County clash wouldn’t be going ahead due to that very reason.
With winds of up to 90 miles per hour also being reported, yellow and even red weather warnings have been issued across various parts of the country, with people being urged to check their routes home from work by local authorities.
Storm Goretti should start calming down this evening (Fri, 9 January) and into Saturday morning, but the after-effects could still play havoc over the next few days.
For instance, over in Cheshire, Macclesfield FC are going so far as to call on nearby residents to help clear their playing surface from heavy snowfall.
So, if you’re in the area and fancy helping out, they could sure do with your help.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
Macclesfield FC are once again requesting the help of the fanbase and the local community to help clear the remainder of the compacted snow from the surrounding areas of the https://t.co/fL99QEEJ4D Stadium.
Danny Jones -
26th September 2022 
