Robert Rinder slams David Beckham 'for putting money over morals' for Qatar World Cup

TV presenter Robert Rinder has criticised David Beckham for signing a £10million deal to become the face of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The Judge Rinder and former Strictly Come Dancing star has stated he feels Beckham has put a price on his morals over his support for the upcoming games, set in a nation known for its discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community (with homosexuality convictions coming with a three-year prison sentence) and women.

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The Middle Eastern country has also come under fire for its treatment of migrant workers who have been building the stadiums for the event, which starts in November. It's believed thousands have died as a result of the conditions they were placed under.

Yet among the promotional ads he's made for the country, former England star Beckham was seen praising Qatar as 'perfection'.

Speaking to The Mail On Sunday, Rinder, who is gay, said that his issues with the country extend far beyond the fears he has for those in his own community, and criticised Beckham for choosing to support a country with such oppressive rules.

"There should be basic requirements before you are entitled to [host] them, and that's not just about LGBTQ," he said. "It's about the 6,500 workers who died, it's about the fact that Beckham's daughter Harper would not be able to continue with her education [if she was Qatari] without the permission of a male relative."

He added: "It is tragic that we are about to have the World Cup in Qatar. We need to do the best, all of us, to highlight all of the issues I'm talking about. We can't bury our heads in the sand.

"You know this is about money, not about the purity or love of the game. What a tragic moment that is."

Since launching his career in the spotlight, Rinder has moved over to documentaries, specifically shining a light on his Jewish heritage and the effects of the Holocaust in My Family, The Holocaust and Me in November 2020.

In 2021, he was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in her birthday honours for services to Holocaust education and awareness.

He is also a regular face on Good Morning Britain, sometimes taking on presenting duties alongside Susanna Reid.

Before becoming a television personality, Rinder worked as a criminal barrister.

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