Ahead of the first World Cup in Asia since 2002, Qatar have signed Manchester United and Real Madrid legend David Beckham as their country’s brand ambassador in a deal worth 150 million pounds. The former Three Lions captain will be receiving an annual amount of 15 million pounds for the next 10 years and will be revealed soon as the face of Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup, as per Sky.
The deal was signed in Qatar’s capital Doha, and the Englishman has been touring stadiums and meeting dignitaries since the start of October. However, Qatar’s objectionable human rights record, especially for their treatment of women and gay people, has raised questions over Beckham’s multi-million-pound contract.
Beckham, whose association with the Qataris goes a long way, especially because of the time he spent with Paris Saint-Germain, will be promoting their club football, tourism and culture over the coming 10 years.
The expectation from the Qatari government is that their nation becomes an option for Western visitors for vacations. Their history of not treating women wisely has shrugged off most European nations from touring the middle-east, but they are hopeful that Beckham’s appointment is a start for the change in perception.
The story was reported by British publication “The Sun”, who went on to quote sources near Beckham, reassuring that Qatar is changing for the good. Although homosexuality is illegal in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the nation has progressively become liberal in recent months. The 46-year-old was also informed about the growing presence of women in their government.
This is the first time FIFA has let a middle-east country host the World Cup, and it has been taken as a matter of huge pride. Some world-class stadia have been built for the mega event that commences in November 2022, and it is expected to be one of the biggest events of the year across the globe.
As it stands, Qatar entered the tournament as hosts, and Denmark have confirmed their position in the final 32, having conceded zero goals in the qualification rounds. Germany have qualified for the finals as well after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Romania in the recent international break.
