England stars met with migrant workers at their training base on Thursday in spite of FIFA‘s command for teams to “focus on the american football” at the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s players would pose for photos, do drills and sign autographs for the workers, without whom the tournament that kicks off on Sunday would not have been possible.
The host nation has drawn criticism for its treatment of migrant workers hired to build the stadiums. Qatar denies reports more than 6,500 died.
The Football Association described the meeting as an “engagement session”, but its timing and relevance were considered important.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrote to teams urging them not to drag the sport into ideological or political ‘battles’.
“Please, let’s focus on football now!” he said. “We know that football does not live in a vacuum and we are also aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature around the world.”
England’s James Maddison leaves a training session at Al Wakrah SC Stadium on Thursday
/ AFP via Getty ImagesHowever, England coach Gareth Southgate said it was “highly unlikely” that he would follow FIFA’s guidelines to focus solely on football during the tournament.
The Three Lions arrived in Qatar on Tuesday on a Virgin Atlantic jet to celebrate gay pride. Homosexual acts are illegal in the desert kingdom and are punishable by seven years in prison or even the death penalty.
Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Declan Rice, Harry Maguire and Ben White were among the squad who looked fighting fit today as they trained at their Al Wakrah HQ in sweltering midday temperatures of 33C.
However, as a precaution, midfielder James Maddison did not train with teammates. The 25-year-old limped out of Leicester City’s win over West Ham but traveled to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the £370 a day cabin-style accommodation built for their fans has been described as “like hell” today.
About 3,000 to 4,000 Three Lions supporters plus another 3,000 cheering for Wales are likely to travel to Qatar. Many will stay in Ras Bu Fontas’ purpose-built huts, which have en suite bathrooms, air conditioning and tea and coffee making facilities.
However, a British contractor who has been to the construction site in Doha told The Times: “The air conditioning in the cabin barely works and sounds like a [fighter jet] is taking off. Even if you have it on all the time during the day, it’s still 27C.
“You can’t have it on at night because it’s so noisy.”