Gary Neville ripped over Qatar job on Have I Got News For You

Former England footballer Gary Neville was ripped on Have I Got News For You for taking a commentating job at the Qatar World Cup. Watch the exchange here:

Neville, 47, was met with backlash when he signed a deal with Qatar state broadcaster beIN SPORTS to work as a pundit during this winter’s World Cup.

Many people argued the gig was a hypocritical move from the sporting star, who has previously been known for social justice campaigning, amid criticism the country faces from human rights groups.

Appearing on the BBC panel show last night, Neville was dragged by Ian Hislop after he asked the Private Eye journalist if it was ‘coming home’.

Hislop replied: "What, your reputation?"

BBC

When asked why he took the job, Neville said: "Well, I think you've got a choice, haven't you?"

Hislop joked: "What, going and not going?"

Neville then continued: "My view always has been that you either highlight the issues and challenges in these countries and speak about them.

"Or you don't say anything and you stay back home and don't go. I've always said we should challenge them."

BBC

But Hislop was eager to point out that those weren’t Neville’s only choices.

"There's another option - you stay at home and highlight the abuses,” he said.

"You don't have to go and take the Qataris' money. I'm not trying to be tiresome, but it is just not a very good defence."

Neville suggested speaking about issues in Qatar while commentating on the World Cup, but Hislop cut in, pretending to present.

He joked: "And it's the kick-off here in this appalling country with its human rights record and honestly I think…

"Oh someone is kicking a ball."

Qatar has come under scrutiny for its approach to human rights, with criticism for homosexuality remaining illegal and laws around migrant workers.

But Neville has defended his decision to take work from beIN, a Qatari media group, telling the Daily Mail: "We either decide that we collaborate with these countries, and try and impact change through football - which is what I think we should always do - or we say we're never going to let them play sport, we're never going to have a World Cup there, we're never going to allow them to compete against us because they don't have what would be as progressive rights as they should have."

REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo

He added: "That is the reality of where I'm at with it. There's no-one that I think wants workers' rights to be better than me, there's no-one who wants women's rights, equality or diversity more than me, I absolutely believe in it.

"When I highlight these issues, I can do so from a position whereby if I am covering eight games on beIN in a World Cup, and those issues come up or there's an incident outside the stadium, I will highlight them. I will never shy away from it."