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David Beckham’s first Qatar commercial attracts widespread criticism

Published 06:46 1 Sept 2022 BST

Updated 09:54 2 Sept 2022 BST

Jack Peat
David Beckham’s first Qatar commercial attracts widespread criticism

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The former football star is reportedly making £15 million a year working with the nation 

David Beckham's first commercial for World Cup hosts Qatar has attracted widespread condemnation. The former Manchester United and England star gushed about the nation in the slick new advert, riding a motorbike at one point through Doha, the capital city. Beckham has been urged by Amnesty International to use his "unique worldwide profile" to raise awareness around worker standards. But instead he promoted the country as an "incredible place to spend a few days on a stopover", saying the "modern and traditional fuse create something really special" and declaring it "one of the best spice markets that I have ever been to." https://twitter.com/PeninsulaQatar/status/1563527103735373824?s=20&t=ziWV0s8_W2un3pxMIqyKJw The ad has attracted widespread backlash due to the country's questionable human rights record. Qatar's treatment of migrant workers has been in the spotlight since the country was awarded the right to host the 2022 finals back in 2010. It has also been called out over its treatment of gay people, who can face the death penalty under Sharia law, and unmarried women, who are not allowed to leave the country without their father’s permission. https://twitter.com/DailyMailUK/status/1565053758618361860?s=20&t=PxuHwuMMFotjUuR5X_Z3cg Posting on Twitter, Jamie Jenkins pointed out the irony of Beckham fronting the ad campaign having previously showed his support for the LGBTQIA+ cause in the past. https://twitter.com/statsjamie/status/1564720241103486976?s=20&t=PxuHwuMMFotjUuR5X_Z3cg Another person question whether Qatar has earned the right to be called "perfection". https://twitter.com/ElunedAnderson/status/1564993010642853895?s=20&t=PxuHwuMMFotjUuR5X_Z3cg While others said he might have been scraping the barrel to find good things to say about it. https://twitter.com/HITCSevens/status/1564992609436712964?s=20&t=PxuHwuMMFotjUuR5X_Z3cg

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David Beckham's first Qatar commercial attracts widespread criticism