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Dozens of fans from England and Wales will benefit from free flight tickets, accommodation, transport and other financial benefits while in Qatar to attend some matches and attend the events accompanying the World Cup, which begins on 20 November.
According to the newspaper,The Guardian“British fans will be part of the” Qatar Fan Leaders Network “group, launched last year by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy in Qatar.
“Fan leaders play an important role in communicating with football fans around the world to participate in the World Cup and provide us with opinions, suggestions and inquiries on all aspects of the tournament and the host country,” said Haya Al- Kuwari, the official in charge of fan interaction at the Supreme Delivery and Legacy Committee.
A number of England and Wales fans have signed up to receive benefits, including paid flights and accommodation, but require a stay of at least 14 days and participation in specific events, one of which will be the opening ceremony on Sunday 20 November, where fan leaders will appear in short bouts of television coverage.
“Ideally, we hope he stays for the duration of the 29-day tournament,” some fans said, while the Times reported that 40 England and 40 other Wales fans had accepted the offer.
Under the terms and conditions of the agreement initially revealed by Dutch radio, travelers will in fact be required to promote the tournament and accompanying events, with the key to the agreement being “likes” and “re-shares”.
Participants will also be asked to report social media content critical to the event.
The Guardian believes that the conditions required of participants in the Qatar Fan Leaders Network group are similar to those that might be required of social media influencers before embarking on the paid promotion.
The newspaper pointed out that the terms of the contract did not bother some of the participants, as fan representatives from all countries whose teams participate in the World Cup are expected to accept the offer of free hospitality in a tournament that is expected to cost twice as much. of the cost of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
With the countdown to the tournament underway, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura wrote a letter inviting all 32 competing nations to put aside their concerns about the host country and put the spotlight on it. on football.
Infantino did not address human rights concerns in Qatar, writing: “There are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature around the world and football should not be expected to have an answer to every crisis.”
He reiterated a promise that: “Everyone is welcome (at the World Cup) regardless of origin, background, religion, gender, race or sexual orientation.”
