Lusail, Berlin, Dusseldorf Lionel Messi seemed irritated when Qatar’s head of state surprisingly put on the slightly transparent noble robe. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Fifa President Gianni Infantino had to show the Argentine superstar how to put his hands through the sleeves of the so-called bischt.
Before the 35-year-old lifted the golden trophy in the air after winning the final of the World Cup in Qatar against France (4-2 on penalties) on Sunday evening, the Argentinian was wrapped in a so-called bischt. Over the traditional sky blue and white kit, Messi wore the slightly see-through black cape with gold trims.
And suddenly the jubilant pictures of the Argentinians with the golden World Cup trophy no longer belonged only to the new world champions – but also to the hosts of this highly politicized finals.
An action that Messi seemed less than enthusiastic about – at the greatest moment of his career, his beloved Argentina jersey had to take second place to the traditional overcoat of the World Cup hosts. And yet he, whose employer Paris St. Germain is 100 percent owned by Oryx Qatar Sport Investments, a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority, founded by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, had to make a good face about this game – after all, he collects a princely annual salary there in the hundreds of millions.
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“You take away a big moment from the player,” said former world champion Bastian Schweinsteiger on ARD. Longtime Argentina international Pablo Zabaleta commented on the BBC: “Why? Just why? There was no reason to do that.” Reactions on social media ranged from loud outrage.
The organizer of the next major football event is Germany in 2024
“In a way it’s shameful that they covered Messi in his Argentinian shirt,” former English professional Gary Lineker told the BBC. “To exploit him there – ouch!” Said ex-national player Tabea Kemme on MagentaTV. The bischt is primarily worn by important people on the national holiday in the emirate.
>> Read also: “Contemporary Form of Slavery” – Qatar, the kafala system – and the lives of migrant workers
That’s why the last act of the Qatar finals in the Lusail Stadium, which was highly controversial in Germany in particular, wasn’t exactly surprising. Qatar made the most of the spotlight.
A number of personalities from politics, business and culture sat in the grandstand. The criticism of human rights violations and working conditions for foreign workers, which Qatar rejects, was far away.
EU scandal throws the emirate’s image campaign back years
After the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2021 Corona European Championship, the 2022 finals were the third football highlight in a row that provoked complicated socio-political debates. The organizer of the next major football event is Germany in 2024.
>> Read here: Corruption scandal in Brussels causes unrest in Qatar – foreign minister “besides with anger”
In Qatar, football is understood “as a political instrument”, wrote Philipp Lahm, tournament director of the EM 2024, in his “Zeit” column before the final. Recently, it has become known “that Qatar is said to have bribed high-ranking MEPs, who in turn downplayed Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers.”
The scandal in the EU Parliament received worldwide attention – much to the annoyance of the Gulf state, which is facing a political shambles. The emirate’s image campaign has been thrown back years, if not decades. Qatar wanted to present itself as a cosmopolitan country willing to reform during the football World Cup. The tournament is now overlaid with photos of the Belgian judiciary: a suitcase and two briefcases stuffed with cash.
The ex-national player and world champion from 2014 is the tournament director of Euro 2024 in Germany.
(Photo: IMAGO/Panama Pictures)
The EM 2024 will “take place in a democracy, in Germany. There, what defines Europe, namely freedom, diversity and equality before the law, must be defended. It’s also the values of football,” wrote Lahm.
Big words that also oblige. During the final round, German politicians signed a long-term supply agreement for liquid gas with Qatar.
The German Football Association was awarded the contract for the EM from June 14 to July 14, 2024 a good four years ago, back then in the application race with Turkey. Lahm recently told the editorial network Germany that the 2006 World Cup summer fairy tale could serve as a model. “We presented ourselves as great hosts, the weather was outstanding – everything has to be just right,” said the 39-year-old. The award of the home tournament 16 years ago has long been overshadowed by allegations of bribery.
In retrospect, the show for the draw for the European Championship qualification in October in Frankfurt/Main almost seems like a fitting coincidence. Pop star Lena presented her current song “Looking for Love” – a month and a half later there was a heated argument in Qatar because the world association Fifa banned the “One Love” captain’s armband from some European World Cup participants. The DFB also had to give in – the association rejected the accusation that it had not adequately defended its own values.
More: “The world is a fairer place today. Glory to God, Glory to Messi” – Voices on a crazy World Cup final