“Källström repent after the statement: ”Very clumsy””
“Kim Källström defended the decision to allow Qatar to organize the world CUP 2022 and felt that an inaccurate picture of the country disseminated in the media.”
“In an interview with SVT Sport, he says now that he regrets parts of the statement.”
“It is very, very clumsy from my side,” he says.”
“the world CUP in Qatar 2022 has already received massive criticism – several years before the championship is even played.”
“the host nation has been repeatedly criticized for its approach to human rights and working conditions for guest workers working on the stadiums.”
“To the SC, one of the organizations that organizes the championship,” says the former Swedish landslagsmittfältaren Kim Källström that the media has painted a according to him, the inaccurate picture of the country’s problems.”
” I think that we swedes have gotten a picture of Qatar which has been taken from the media. But it is important to visited the country yourself to form your own opinion. Obviously, there are areas for improvement in Qatar, but they are working hard with it. People maybe skeptical, but I have had a very pleasant stay here and it has been an eye-opener. Sometimes, you may not believe everything you read in the media, ” he says.”
“the Statement has provoked strong reactions in Sweden.”
“Sportbladets own columnist Simon Bank writes:”
“Kim Källström set in the world CUP the organisation’s services, and pays tribute to the organizers behind the fotbollshistoriens most contested arrangements. Questions on it? Many, Kim.””
“”He puts on a damn high horse and claim that everything is under control, that he had been in the country and seen it with my own eyes,” writes Fotbolldirekts columnist Patrick Ekwall.”
“Now do Källström a poodle. In an interview with SVT Sport, he talks about the statement.”
“Recognizing that it was clumsy”
” I have also read about how the situation is in Qatar and that they have problems with human rights. But when I was down there and met with the people from the embassy and the ILO (international labour organisation) who is appointed by the united nations, it was perhaps not that it was exactly as it was described in Sweden, ” he says, and develops his previous statement.”
“He says that he understands that what he said to the SC is perceived as ”very clumsy”, but it is good to the country and its political system ends up under the microscope thanks to the forthcoming championship.”
“the SVT: What is it you are referring to when it comes to Qatar and the wording ”one should not believe everything in the media”?”
” If you say so here, I have not read in Swedish media that there is an improvement made since the world CUP, but have read a lot about that the conditions are miserable and they have certainly been, and perhaps they are today, but it has become better. I can’t explain it in so many other ways, ” he says.”