David Beckham has said the Qatar World Cup will be a "platform for progress" amid backlash for his backing of the event's controversial location.
Speaking at the Supreme Committee’s “Generation Amazing” youth festival in Doha on Thursday in a pre-recorded video, the football icon praised the nation for their organisation of the international sporting event, reports Birmingham Mail.
It comes as football chiefs have been slammed for choosing the country as tournament host due to its criminalisation of homosexuality, poor treatment of migrant workers and dismal human rights record.David told his audience: "Qatar dreamed of bringing the World Cup to a place that it had never been before, but that it wouldn’t be enough just to achieve things on the pitch - the pitch would be a platform for progress.” Beckham, who has appeared in promotional videos for the occasion, has come under fire for supporting Fifa's decision - with comedian Joe Lycett giving the former England captain an ultimatum to renounce his role or waste serious cash.
David continued: “Dreams can come true. That is why you are here. You share Generation Amazing’s twin passions for the game of football and for making the world a more tolerant and inclusive place.“Every one of the great players I was lucky enough to play with started exactly the same way.
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