Robert Rinder has criticised Qatar Ambassador David Beckham over the ‘tragic’ deal to promote the World Cup amid the human rights issues in the country.
The TV star - known as Judge Rinder - has slammed the former Manchester United star for putting 'money before morals' after reportedly accepting a six-figure sum to be an Qatar World Cup Ambassador.
The 44-year-old has also called the decision to host the World Cup, which starts next month, a 'disgrace'.
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Rinder said: "There should be basic requirements before you are entitled to [host] them, and that's not just about LGBTQ. It's about the 6,500 workers who died, it's about the fact that Beckham's daughter Harper would not be able to continue with her education [if she was Qatari] without the permission of a male relative."
For those unaware, Qatar's controversial discriminatory policy against women and gay people has been under scrutiny for years.
"It is tragic that we are about to have the World Cup in Qatar," he added.
"We need to do the best, all of us, to highlight all of the issues I'm talking about. We can't bury our heads in the sand.
"You know this is about money, not about the purity or love of the game.
"What a tragic moment that is."
LADbible has contacted David Beckham for comment.
Dr Nas Mohamed, who became the first openly gay man in Qatar, also previously slammed the football star.
According to the letter obtained by The Independent, Dr Mohamed wrote: “You are stamping out hope for the LGBT community in Qatar.
“You show up... take money and look the other way. Furthermore, you send a message that there is truly no chance for us to escape our current persecution and live freely.
“This whitewashing of the persecution of the LGBT community in Qatar does not just erase the pain of those suffering from it, but also undermines their pleas for asylum when they do escape. After all, if David Beckham describes Qatar as ‘perfection’, how bad could it really be?”
He concluded: “I am asking you [Beckham] to use your platform to amplify our voices and highlight that we are not OK."
Last year, Beckham’s spokesperson said: “David has been visiting Qatar regularly for over a decade.
"He’s always talked about the power of football as a force for good.”
Topics: David Beckham, Sport, World Cup
Anish Vij