Council of Europe: "A lot still needs to change in Qatar" (Gianni Infantino, FIFA)

"Is Qatar now a paradise country? No, certainly not. A lot needs still to change, a lot needs still to be done. We need to keep the focus and the pressure all together, but we also have to recognise that change has indeed happened, and support those who are investing their time, their energy, and their beliefs for this change to happen," said Gianni Infantino (SUI/ITA), president of FIFA, regarding the staging of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, on 26/01/2022.

The president of the International Federation addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg (FRA) on the occasion of the adoption (70 votes in favour/10 against/10 abstentions) of a resolution on football governance (document available to download) prepared by Lord George Foulkes (United Kingdom, SOC).

"Change is happening, and when it happens we have as well to recognise it. Thanks to the World Cup, thanks to the spotlight that football brings to a country like, in this case, Qatar. The system has evolved in a record time of only a few years," said Gianni Infantino.

"What has changed concretely? Well…