Beth Mead has stated her opposition to the men s World Cup going ahead in Qatar, with England s Euro 2022 hero saying it shows there is no respect on a lot of levels .
With the Qatar 2022 finals beginning on November 20, players are poised to depart within days for the finals.
Qatar s human rights record has been widely criticised, with its treatment of groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and migrant workers particularly highlighted by campaign groups
Mead, who is in a relationship with her Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema, said the tournament was one she would not be backing or promoting .
Qatar was awarded the World Cup in December 2010 after a vote of FIFA members, to the disbelief of many in the game.
Officials from Qatar have strenuously denied allegations of corruption in the process, while saying the tournament will be a force for good in the country, and now they will get the world stage for football s most prestigious event.
Mead told BBC Radio 4 s Woman s Hour: For me, from the minute it was announced I thought, I mean, it s not the best idea .
The way they think and how they go is the complete opposite to what I believe and respect, and although I m cheering for the boys who are going to play football there, I still don t believe it s the right place.
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC)
Mead was player of the tournament and Golden Boot winner in England s women s European Championship triumph, and she will hit the global stage next year when Australia and New Zealand co-host the Women s World Cup.
She is disappointed that a country with Qatar s rights record got to this point in being given such a platform by football s authorities.
But unfortunately money talks, Mead said, and the situation even of the stadiums being built and the amount of people who have passed [died] because of that, it s not an ideal situation, and it s not something I will be backing or promoting at all, but unfortunately it is going ahead.
Just disappointing, I guess, in that sense of there s no respect on a lot of levels, even though it s a game of football.
