David Beckham earns some of his £150million promotional deal with Qatar by attending desert nation’s 20th ‘Doha Forum’ along with Malala Yousafzai, Bill Gates and John Kerry
- David Beckham’s under fire for reported £150m deal after Qatar appearance
- He appeared alongside Malala Yousafzai and Bill Gates at Doha Forum event
- Former Man United star, 46, signed reported £15m-a-year deal to become country’s ambassador for its World Cup which starts in November this year
- But human rights groups criticised his aligning with a ‘sportswashing’ project
David Beckham’s multi-million pound ‘sportswashing’ deal with Qatar has been thrust back into the spotlight as he appeared at the desert nation’s glitzy 20th Doha Forum.
The former Manchester United great, 46, rubbed shoulders with Nobel Peace Prize laurate Malala Yousafzai, tech entrepreneur Bill Gates and US diplomat John Kerry in the capital on Saturday.
Beckham signed a reported £15million-per-year deal to become the country’s ambassador before it hosts its first World Cup in November this year.
That’s despite growing international concern about Qatar’s record of persecuting gay people and denying certain basic rights to women.
Beckham’s decision to accept the deal saw people question his role as a UNICEF ambassador and accuse him of aiding a ‘sportswashing’ project.
He remained silent when question were asked about the authoritarian Gulf state’s human rights record.
The former Manchester United great, 46, rubbed shoulders with Nobel laurate Malala Yousafzai (left) tech entrepreneur Bill Gates and US diplomat John Kerry in the Qatari capital on Saturday
Beckham signed a reported £15million-per-year deal to become the country’s ambassador before it hosts its first World Cup later this year. Pictured: David Beckham attends the 20th Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday
Beckham’s decision to accept the reported £150m deal saw people question his role as a UNICEF ambassador and accuse him of aiding a ‘sportswashing’ project. Above: Beckham appears at the 20th Doha Forum on Saturday, March 26
Beckham previously appeared on beIN Sports in 2019 where he spoke of his fondness for the Gulf state, saying it has a ‘great culture’.
He said: ‘I think as a player and a fan you want to visit a World Cup competition with great facilities, safe facilities, great hotels and great culture – and that’s what Qatar is all about.
‘I wish I was still playing because to play in stadiums like this, it’s a dream. Players are going to be spoilt.’
But he faced a barrage of criticism from humanitarian groups such as Amnesty International after signing the agreement in spite of Qatar’s alleged human rights violations, in particular over its attitudes towards women and homosexuality.
The country continues to insist that conditions for workers are of their highest priority, however, numerous investigations have found this not to be the case, and there is evidence that the number of deaths of migrant workers is being under reported.
Taking to Twitter, the account End Sportswashing wrote: ‘Very disappointing decision by David Beckham to sell his image to this #sportswashing exercise.
‘He should instead be using his position to draw attention to Qatar’s human rights record and treatment of it’s migrant workers.’
Veteran human-rights activist Peter Tatchell said: ‘It is really disappointing that he is promoting Qatar in return for a lot of money, given its dismal human-rights record.
‘He has made a huge mistake. I hope he will think again. This doesn’t square with his professed support for women’s and LGBT+ rights.’
Sources previously told The Mail on Sunday that Beckham’s advisers have used the World Cup to ‘position’ his controversial deal as about celebrating football, despite it being tied to promoting Qatar.
One said: ‘It all seems a little more palatable for David to associate the contract with football and make it all about a festival of football.’
Eleven years ago tiny desert nation Qatar shocked world football after winning the right to host the World Cup in what became a hugely controversial decision by FIFA
In a surprise appearance by video link at Qatar’s Doha Forum today (pictured) Zelensky called for more help from world powers
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, future alliances and international relations were among the topics discussed by politicians, campaigners and celebrities at the 20th Doha Forum.
Other key talking points are understood to be centred around online disinformation and extremism, cyber security and post-pandemic business models.
President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise video appearance before the panel, where he urged the gas-rich nation to boost production to offset any loss of Russian energy supplies across Europe.
Ukraine’s premier later reiterated calls for both the United Nations and world powers to come to his country’s aid in their fight against Moscow’s forces.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the ruling Emir of Qatar, criticised Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and called for an end to growing global militarisation policies.
‘It is noteworthy here that the accusation of anti-Semitism is now used wrongly against everyone who criticizes Israel’s policies, and this impinges on the struggle against racism and actual anti-Semitism,’ Sheikh Tamim said at the start of the forum.
‘While stressing solidarity, I would like in this context to remind of the millions of Palestinians who have been suffering from the Israeli occupation and international neglect for more than seven decades,’ he added.
‘Similarly, there are a lot of other people, such as the Syrian people and the Afghan people, for whom the international community has failed to render justice.’
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