A Qatar-nished reputation
Why David Beckham’s decision to become a World Cup ambassador has left many in dismay
SOME years ago I worked with a friend who had a cardboard cut-out of David Beckham perched on her desk.
Eighteen inches high, he wore a smart suit and with ruggedly handsome features he was her touchstone on difficult days in the office.
“What would David do?” we’d ask ourselves when the boss was particularly difficult, the hours particularly long, a member of the public rude and shouty.
At other times, he was just a pleasant distraction as we imagined what life might be like married to Mr B.
The man was, we all agreed, a decent sort; the epitome of metrosexuality.
A bloke with a social conscience who would empty the dishwasher without being asked while simultaneously telling us how gorgeous we were and offering to pick the kids up from school.
Now? Well, I asked my mate where cardboard David was these days.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, “but when I find him he is going to get a very hard stare.”
She, like many of us, is dismayed that the man who is a Unicef goodwill ambassador, a staunch ally of the gay community, an advocate for kids affected by violence and malaria, a supporter of Help for Heroes and donator to charities across the world has signed to become Brand Ambassador for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
What was he thinking? He doesn’t need the money or the profile so why put your reputation on the line by chumming up to a country where human rights are in shockingly short supply?
This is the bloke who only a few weeks ago queued like the rest of us mortals to see the Queen lying in state. I don’t understand why, if he clearly read the mood of the country so well then, he’s failed to do so now.
The fact is, even if you don’t care for or watch football, the noisy controversy around this World Cup is loud and it’s growing.
Qatar is a country where homosexuality is punishable by death. Take a moment to let that sink in – a country that here, in 2022, can lawfully kill you simply because of who you fall in love with.
It is also a place where the freedom of women is heavily restricted, their rights subjugated.
Women must obtain permission from a male guardian to get married, to study, to travel abroad – even to receive some reproductive healthcare.
Qatar is not a place that should be taking centre stage as the host of the World Cup. Or the host of anything, really.
And although I love watching footy, I can’t in all honesty bring myself to get excited by this tournament. It simply doesn’t feel right.
I suspect Mr Beckham will come to regret his decision to go to Qatar and in doing so appear to endorse the country and what it stands for.
He’s still an attractive man. It’s still the beautiful game.
It’s just the images of both are now a little tarnished.