ROY KEANE and Graeme Souness have debated whether the World Cup should be taking place in Qatar.

The hosts have come under increased scrutiny since being awarded the 2022 tournament in controversial circumstances, with focus on its treatment of women, members of the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers.

Keane, working as a pundit for ITV, said the human rights issues have been dismissed flippantly.

“The World Cup shouldn’t be here, it shouldn’t be here,” he said ahead of Argentina’s game with Saudi Arabia. “It has been mentioned with corruption regarding FIFA. The country, the way they treat migrant workers, gay people.

“It is great that it has been brought up. They shouldn’t have the World Cup here, you can’t treat people like that.

“We all love football and we’re on about spreading the game but to dismiss human rights flippantly because of a football tournament is not right. It shouldn’t be here.

“The bottom line is, we are talking about common decency, how you treat people. Football, the greatest sport in the world, there is so much money involved, there will be corruption but let’s get back to basics, you have to treat people with decency. It should start and finish with that.”

Former Rangers boss Graeme Souness made the point that Britain hasn't been "perfect" in their history. He added: “Can I just say we’re not perfect as well in our history. We’re not perfect.

"You know the British haven’t been perfect in many parts of the world and including in Roy’s country. We’ve been far from perfect.

"They'll be praying that the football will make it a great tournament and people won't be talking about (sportswashing and human rights issues) going forward.

"But I'm afraid, you know, there are so many activists out there that they will forever be talking about Qatar and their human rights record.”


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