arsenal.com
Martin Odegaard, who was named captain of the Norwegian national team on Friday, argues that a boycott of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is unnecessary.
After The Guardian reported that at least 6,751 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar since the country won the right to host the 2022 World Cup in December 2010, the Norwegian clubs backed the boycott proposal.
“I believe that what is currently taking place in Norway is excellent, both in terms of interest and in terms of the vast number of people who are concerned about such a complex problem. This country is seeing a lot of positive developments. We need to talk about how we can make a difference. I believe it is important to stop a boycott,” Odegaard told Tv2.
“There are other ways to strengthen the point, but for now, conversations are rather helpful. For the past 20 years, our nation has not participated in the World Cup. I’m not sure how much publicity this step will get if we boycotted now before qualification ven started.
I believe there are other ways to reinforce the message. But it’s great that people are talking about it and that so many people in this country are interested. I am proud to call myself a Norwegian,” says the author.
