TV pundit and former-footballer Gary Lineker has denied the BBC had snubbed the Qatar World Cup 2022 opening ceremony on Sunday
amid criticism that it was a deliberate move due to thesurrounding the host country. BBC One instead aired the Chelsea vs Tottenham match in the Women’s Super League, which finished after the opening ceremony had begun.
When the channel switched to its programme broadcast from Qatar, Lineker, alongside hosts Alex Scott and Alex Shearer discussed the allegations levelled against Qatar, and how it was “the most controversial World Cup in history”. He said: “Ever since FIFA chose Qatar back in 2010, the smallest nation to have hosted football’s greatest competition has faced some big questions.
However, the move received criticism from outspoken TV host Piers Morgan, describing it as “outrageously disrespectful”., he said: “Outrageously disrespectful to Qatar that the BBC didn’t broadcast the World Cup opening ceremony, and instead put out more virtue-signalling guff about how awful it is. If they’re that appalled, they should bring home their vast army of employees & spare us this absurd hypocrisy.
Viewers tuning in to BBC One’s flagship broadcast, however, were unable to see the inclusivity-themed spectacular from the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, missing out on highlights such as BTS sensation Jungkook and Qatari singer Fahad al-Kubaisi.
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