David Beckham has come under fire after reportedly agreeing a £150 million deal to become an ambassador for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The former England captain will promote Qatar's tourism and culture over the next decade, according to reports.
The 46-year-old has close ties with Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari president of Paris Saint-Germain, where Beckham ended his playing career in 2013. However, critics have accused him of 'selling his soul' given Qatar's human rights record, particularly regarding LGBT rights, women's rights, and migrant worker deaths.
According to The Guardian, 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the country was awarded the World Cup in 2010. Beckham's role as a UNICEF ambassador has also drawn criticism, with social media users expressing disappointment that he would align himself with the Gulf state.
A spokesperson for Beckham told The Sun: 'David has always talked about the power of football as a force for good on many levels. As we reach the one year to go point he will join the wider football community that is coming together for the World Cup 2022.'
The Athletic journalist Adam Crafton described the deal as 'pretty dismal', while Twitter user @DougieBrimson wrote: 'Disappointed that I am in David Beckham, can anyone really be surprised that he's taken the money.' Express Sport has contacted Beckham's representatives for comment.
