") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gpjOba::before{display:none}}.hWxisF{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.hWxisF{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.hWxisF{max-width:622px}}.dvfakS{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e}.ctXiMg{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.CRIit{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.CRIit:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.CRIit:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.ghJHgZ{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jlvSeZ{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.jlvSeZ::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@media(min-width:768px){.ifXxYf{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.gYsKvs{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.qHctg .taboola{display:none}}.qHctg:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.qHctg:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.qHctg:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.qHctg:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.hCEqSm .tp-container-inner,.hCEqSm .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.hCEqSm.closed{display:none}.jlMLQf{width:32px;color:#627aac}@media(min-width:768px){.jlMLQf.mobile-only{display:none}}.jlMLQf:hover{color:#9cabcb}.ilTwGS{width:32px;color:#4e4e4e}@media(min-width:768px){.ilTwGS.mobile-only{display:none}}.ilTwGS:hover{color:#919191}.hiqCrg{width:32px;color:#25d366}@media(min-width:768px){.hiqCrg.mobile-only{display:none}}.hiqCrg:hover{color:#66e093}.kiwuTP{width:32px;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.kiwuTP.mobile-only{display:none}}.kiwuTP:hover{color:#f58992}.wViVX{display:flex;gap:12px}.kWPFaS{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.kWPFaS.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.gXmchn{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.gXmchn.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.gXmchn.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cArLiK .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.jKfqFn{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;display:flex;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.jKfqFn{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.jKfqFn{--modal-width:635px}}.eYHQuU{--close-button-margin:16px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin)}@media(min-width:768px){.eYHQuU{--close-button-margin:24px}}.gVWZyJ{width:100%;max-width:437px;margin-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.gVWZyJ{margin-bottom:18px}}.gvKsFx{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;width:.01em;height:.01em;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap}.loKuIs{width:100%;margin:0}.ktFUxH{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.ktFUxH{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.cnAboz{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cnAboz{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bdfufZ{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.cVoYmY{padding:0}.isfpiE{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#70a5a7}.ixvYXS{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.hCHeth{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hCHeth{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.hvJvAA{display:flex}.sticky .hvJvAA{flex-direction:column}.kciiLJ{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.kciiLJ{height:25px}}.fSsEip{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fSsEip::after{content:':'}.kdqbii{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.kdqbii::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .lkPksW{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .lkPksW{margin-top:-407px}}.lkPksW>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .lkPksW>p{line-height:27px}.lkPksW>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .lkPksW>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .lkPksW>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.lkPksW>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.lkPksW span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.cnknzo{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.cnknzo{min-height:450px}}.teads .cnknzo{display:block}.cnknzo [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dTdlgq{display:none}}.dTdlgq[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.dTdlgq.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.gMxIQB{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fJIQUi{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eFDpwi{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.eFDpwi{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.eFDpwi{max-width:622px}}.jkkqcL{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.jkkqcL{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.dDFcwe{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dDFcwe{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.jbPJqN{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jbPJqN{display:none}}.fdEOdF{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.fdEOdF{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.bcQtEw{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jIgCsj{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jIgCsj:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jIgCsj:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.bhFQeV{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.kqOtlp{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.kqOtlp{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bvgAkY{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bvgAkY{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.ZbvOr{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.ZbvOr{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.cqHcKs{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.cqHcKs{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.bjQKsM{order:-1}}.gBaKpR .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.gBaKpR .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}.dVyExd{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.dVyExd{min-height:450px}}.jHlYLm{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm{min-height:450px}}.jHlYLm.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm.mobile-only{display:none}}.jHlYLm.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.jHlYLm.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.jHlYLm .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.czoMqL{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.czoMqL .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.czoMqL .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.czoMqL .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.czoMqL.sponsored-article img,.czoMqL.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.czoMqL.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.czoMqL .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.czoMqL .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.czoMqL .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.czoMqL .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL{max-width:624px;margin:0}.czoMqL.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.czoMqL{padding-right:0}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.hxWiMl{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#fff;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.hxWiMl{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.hxWiMl{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.hIiCJP{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:20px}}.hIiCJP::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hIiCJP:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hIiCJP{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.hIiCJP::before{margin-top:2px}}.hIiCJP time{display:block}.hIiCJP time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.kQUTeT{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ef4757;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.kQUTeT:hover,.kQUTeT:active{color:#f58992}@media(min-width:768px){.kQUTeT{margin-bottom:0}}.kuCYzg{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.kuCYzg{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kuCYzg{width:30%}}.gpMjkH{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gpMjkH{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gpMjkH{flex-direction:row}}.bmsYCE{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bmsYCE{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .bmsYCE{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.bmsYCE{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .bmsYCE{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.bmsYCE a{color:#fff}.bmsYCE a:hover{color:#f58992}.bmsYCE a:hover::after{color:#fff}.bmsYCE a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.bmsYCE a:last-child::after{display:none}.bPeEQC{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.bpwcVt{margin:0;color:#fff;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.bpwcVt{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.bpwcVt{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bpwcVt p{font:inherit}.article-feature .bpwcVt a{font-weight:bold}.jaLjpk{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#222}@media(min-width:1000px){.jaLjpk{padding:0 16px}.parallax .jaLjpk{max-width:1240px}}.clZtvZ{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.cEPZGL{background:#222}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-1{max-width:968px;background:#222}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0}@media(max-width:999px){.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px 0}}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-2,.cEPZGL .sc-aeekvc-0{color:#fff}.cEPZGL .sc-qvufca-2{margin:0 0 20px}.cEPZGL .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}.aGnPE{position:absolute;top:0;left:0}.lemePW{max-width:100%}.fiwWqr{position:relative;aspect-ratio:16/9}.fiwWqr>div,.fiwWqr>img{position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;height:100%}.gJZXuo.fullscreen{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:3000000000;width:100%;height:100%;background:#000}.gJZXuo .btn{position:absolute;top:5px;right:5px;width:25px;height:25px;color:#222;font-family:helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:20px;line-height:25px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.jGPcFZ{position:relative}}.jGPcFZ .jw-flag-floating.jw-floating-dismissible .jw-wrapper{bottom:2rem}.jGPcFZ .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper{right:0}.jGPcFZ .jw-flag-floating .jw-wrapper.jw-float-to-top{top:0;bottom:auto}.hIqZkH{max-width:100%;clear:both}.ldpSwp{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .ldpSwp{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.ilJfaV{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.fIgmuu{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.fIgmuu.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.grPbuS{min-height:600px}.grPbuS #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.jfSvuX{min-height:250px}.kdHApG{max-width:100%}.dgoHoz{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.eSkAOW{margin:0 0 12px}.ctSnkl{height:380px}.cCOQKx{width:100%;height:51px}.NgRo{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.ksidoU{margin-bottom:16px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.bhdekM{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.bhdekM{display:none}}.dvQXpA{width:308px}.dvQXpA.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.dvQXpA{display:none}}.article-liveblog .bZTaXI{background-color:#f7f7f7}.wQyIS{justify-content:center}.jQYxbM{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
Culture TV & Radio News John Oliver takes aim at ‘logically inexplicable’ Qatar World Cup in blistering Last Week Tonight monologue ‘I won’t say that Qatar definitely got the World Cup through bribery, but I won’t say that they didn’t. And I will say that they did,’ comedian quipped
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in Alex Scott explains why she's at World Cup despite controversy surrounding LGBTQ rights Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more John Oliver launched into a blistering attack on Fifa and Qatar as the 2022 World Cup kicked off.
During Sunday’s (20 November) episode ofLast Week Tonight , the British comedian explained to his US viewers that the tournament was “like the Super Bowl, except the rest of the world actually gives a f***”.
Calling Fifa “a cartel-like group of scumbags... who occasionally put on soccer matches”, he explained how Qatar was “going all out” to turn the World Cup into a “major branding event”.
“Qatar wasn’t just a surprising choice, it was logically inexplicable,” Oliver said. “It would be like if the Westminster Dog Show awarded the Best in Show title to a tortoise. Nothing against that tortoise, but not only should it not have won, it should have been automatically disqualified.”
He referenced the blazing weather and the “host of human rights violations” within the country, before covering the accusations that secured their World Cup bid through bribery, something the country has denied.
“I won’t say that Qatar definitely got the World Cup through bribery,” Oliver said. “But I won’t say that they didn’t. And I will say that they did.”
He then discussed the 10-year process of building stadiums in the country, where hundreds of thousands of migrant workers reportedly paid huge fees to travel to Qatar, then had their passports taken away and were forced to work in the 52 degree heat for minimal pay.
One investigation claimed that thousands of migrant workers, mostly from India, Nepal and Bangladash, had died in Qatar from 2010 to 2020, although Qatar said that it was just 37, with only three directly being related to work.
Comedian didn’t hold back his feelings about the tournament (HBO) Claiming that the stadiums were built through “modern-day slavery”, Oliver angrily explained: “When Fifa awarded Qatar the World Cup, there was only one way those stadiums were getting built, and there was only one group of people who was going to do it. And they gave them the tournament anyway.”
Oliver then discussed the country’s stance on women and LGBT+ issues, saying: “The Qatari government is engaging in some truly horrendous behaviour, and we can’t just gloss over that and uncritically put it in the spotlight. It’s an authoritarian regime, not Mel f***ing Gibson.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Try for free “By the way, here’s a fun game. Guess how many movies he’s been in this year. You’re wrong, it’s seven. This truly has been the year of Mel.”
Concluding his monologue, Oliver said: “Here’s the thing. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t watch this World Cup or be excited about it. As tough as this is to admit, I will be watching... But let’s try and make sure a line is drawn here.”
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in