BBC stars given guide for tricky questions

TOP BBC stars in Qatar have been handed a ‘cheat sheet’ on how to answer tricky questions over the World Cup host country.

In guidance sent to its presenters and commentators, the broadcaster says it will address the controversy in its coverage but its big names are not obliged to do so in interviews.

Instead, they can use the ‘World Cup Briefing’ document to get around questions about Qatar’s record on human rights and workers’ rights by explaining that they are there to focus on the football while pointing to the BBC’s highlighting of these issues elsewhere. The BBC insists that if any of the stars wish to talk about the Qatari state, they are free to do so.

Lead tournament presenter Gary Lineker is among those to have called this year’s World Cup ‘corrupt’.

Sunday’s opener between Qatar and Ecuador will be shown on BBC1. The build-up intends to shine a light on the host country’s stance on samesex relationships, women’s rights and the treatment of migrant workers.

Lineker is said to want the first programme to resemble a ‘mini-Panorama’ after working with human rights organisation Amnesty International. The BBC hopes it will set the tone for its coverage of the tournament.

In its guidance, the BBC lists potential questions with ways to answer them. One question is: ‘Given the thousands of migrant deaths, do you feel conflicted about attending this World Cup at all?’ The answer reads: ‘The World Cup is happening in Qatar regardless of whether or not I attend. My role is to report on the football for the BBC where we will, of course, address topical issues relating to the tournament as part of our coverage.’