20 days to go! No public World Cup viewing, says Barcelona in Qatar protest
Football
By
Associated Press
| Oct 31, 2022
Barcelona won't offer public viewing venues to watch Spain's games during next month's World Cup in Qatar after its mayor said her city doesn't support holding the soccer tournament in a "dictatorship."
Spanish news agency EFE reports that Barcelona mayor Ada Colau rejected a request, by an opposition party during a city hall council session on Friday, to open a public venue for citizens to gather and watch Spain.
Paris and other French cities have also said they won't put up screens to follow the games.
Colau said, according to EFE, that her city government would not "dedicate public resources nor public spaces for the viewing of a World Cup that is being held in a dictatorship."
"It is a mistake to organize a global sports event, which should promote democratic values, peace and human rights, in a dictatorship," Colau said.
READ MORE
Doctors set 90-day ultimatum for pay talks, warn of strike
Kenya, Italy adopt four-year cooperation plan after Ruto-Meloni talks
Colau, a leading member of a left-wing party, is a former housing activist who became mayor of Barcelona, Spain's second largest city, in 2015.
Human rights groups have criticized the choice of Qatar as World Cup host for its treatment of migrant workers and the gay community, among other issues.