The BBC, United Kingdom’s public service broadcaster has been criticised for choosing not to air the Qatar World Cup 2022 opening ceremony. It broadcasted a monologue critical of Qatar instead.
“When Russia hosted the world cup in 2018, it had already annexed Crimea and occupied eastern Ukraine. At the time there was zero criticism of it from the BBC and the opening ceremony was shown in full. Yet the BBC chose today to sanctimoniously lecture to us. Disgraceful,” read a reaction from user.
Pundits on the BBC about human rights instead of airing the inclusivity-themed ceremony.
When the channel switched to its programme broadcast from Qatar, hosts Gary Lineker, Alex Scott and Alex Shearer discussed the allegations levelled against the host country. “It’s the most controversial World Cup in history and a ball hasn’t even been kicked,” said Lineker. Gary Lineker delivered a monologue critical of hosts Qatar, covering rights of migrant workers, LGBT people.
The BBC declined to explain why it had shunted coverage of the opening ceremony.
“Outrageously disrespectful to Qatar that the BBC didn’t broadcast the World Cup opening ceremony, and instead put out more virtue-signalling guff about how awful it is. If they’re that appalled, they should bring home their vast army of employees & spare us this absurd hypocrisy,” tweeted British broadcaster Piers Morgan.
“’It’s the most controversial World Cup in history’ says the BBC at the start of its coverage. Says so much given Putin’s Russia hosted it last time,” Amnesty International UK Campaigns Manager Kristyan Benedict said in a post to Twitter.
Meanwhile the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East has kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony inside Al Bayt Stadium, a facility designed to resemble a traditional Bedouin tent.
The 30-minute show featured performances by international and local actors, singers and dancers, including Hollywood star Morgan Freeman, K-pop sensation Jungkook of South Korean superband BTS and Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi.
“From Qatar, from the Arab world, I welcome everyone to the World Cup 2022,” Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said.
“How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together,” he said.
