Thursday, November 24, 2022 at 4:56 PM• Jonathan van Haaster • Last update: 16:57

Noël Le Graët calls the criticism of World Cup host Qatar ‘excessive’. The president of the French football association FFF believes that more attention should be paid to football and less to the political side of the tournament. Since the allocation of the World Cup to Qatar, there has been criticism of that country, and Le Graët thinks it is now enough.

“I was surprised by the political aspect that characterizes this World Cup. I only follow football, leaving the political side to the people with the necessary competence.” The eighty-year-old director, who still does not want to give way to the French football association, says that he thinks the call for a boycott of the tournament is exaggerated. “I am surprised by this attack on a country that has shown its willingness to host a World Cup. Nevertheless, there are still people who question Qatar’s ability to host the tournament. I see the opposite and see that they be ready.”

The reaction of the French Football Federation is in stark contrast to the statements of Jesper Møller. The chairman of the Danish football association DBU indicated on Wednesday that the Scandinavians are even considering leaving FIFA. “I’ve never experienced a situation like this,” Møller said. “And I’ve been doing this job since 1998. I’m not only disappointed, but also angry. It’s unacceptable that they put us on the spot like that. That we were told so late is totally unacceptable. It’s reprehensible. “

Earlier reported the French sports newspaper L’Equipe all that Le Graët to Hugo Lloris, the captain of les Bleus, asked not to wear the much-discussed OneLove captain’s armband. The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper ultimately did not do that either, just like the captains of the other countries who initially intended to do so. “I also have a personal opinion on the subject,” Lloris said before the first group match against Australia (4-1 win). “And it resembles that of our president Noël Le Graët. When we receive foreigners in France, we often want them to adapt to our rules and respect our culture. I tend to do the same in Qatar, no more and no less .”