On October 24, the British media "Mirror" broke the news that David Beckham accepted a contract worth a total of $277 million from Qatar, and Beckham will become the ambassador of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Beckham was also widely criticized for the news that qatar's human rights issues have long been controversial.
Under the agreement, Beckham will earn about $21 million a year over the next 10 years and help Qatar promote local culture and tourism. The Sun reported that Beckham had traveled to Doha this month to meet with Qatari dignitaries.
Human rights issues in Qatar are the focus of international attention, according to local law, gay people can be punished with up to 5 years in prison, and the U.S. State Department claims that qatar's gender discrimination, forced labor, freedom of expression and other situations are also very serious.
Peter Tatchell, a veteran LGBTQ activist, told the Daily Mail that Beckham's actions were "really disappointing" given Qatar's poor human rights record. "He made a huge mistake. I hope he thinks again, which doesn't fit his claim to support women and LGBT+. On social media, many people also questioned the identity of Beckham's UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
The Sun quoted sources as saying that David Beckham had promised fans that they would be allowed to display rainbow flags inside the stadium. "The World Cup was held for the first time in the Arab world and that can have a very positive impact. He firmly believes that football can bridge the divide and has seen progress in resolving related issues. ”
As of now, the Qatar World Cup has not officially announced this endorsement, and Beckham himself has not yet responded.
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