It is the images that remain from the award ceremony of the World Cup in Qatar: Lionel Messi wears a traditional robe. Criticism rained down for this supposed coup by the Emir. But the Arab world cannot understand them.
In the Arab world, users on social networks have reacted with astonishment to criticism of Lionel Messi wearing a traditional shirt at the World Cup ceremony. "When Mexico hosted the World Cup in 1970, they made defending champion Pele wear a Mexican hat," one fan wrote on Twitter. At that time, the media would have described it as "realizing the football message". Another user commented, "When Arabs give their guest a biscuit, it's an honor and a token of gratitude, and it's not really different from Pele wearing a Mexican hat in 1970."
However, there is a big difference between the scenes: the traditional headgear was spontaneously handed to Pelé by cheering fans. This time it was Qatar's head of state, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who put the transparent noble robe called Bischt on Messi for the award ceremony. The 35-year-old had seemed visibly irritated, but then bravely smiled into the TV cameras with the unfamiliar cape with the golden applications and did not take off the robe even when cheering with the trophy.
For many observers, especially in the West, this action was nothing more than a coolly calculated PR coup. Because Messi's photos from the award ceremony will stick with this World Cup of stagings. The jubilant pictures of the Argentines after their victory no longer belong only to the new world champions - but also to the host country.
"It's a shame that Messi was covered up in his Argentina shirt," said former England international turned BBC commentator Gary Lineker. And the German TV experts also had little understanding for the instrumental behavior of the World Cup hosts. Bastian Schweinsteiger, world champion of 2014 and later national team captain, found in the ARD, for example, "that you take away a really big moment from the player. In my opinion, the action wasn't successful, you can do that later in the dressing room."
In Germany in particular, the award of the World Cup to Qatar was extremely controversial. The Gulf state has been criticized for human rights violations, among other things. The country is accused of wanting to polish up its image with sporting events such as the World Cup.
A bischt is a traditional cloak worn by men in the Gulf States and Iran on special occasions. At the award ceremony in Mexico in June 1970, the Brazilian player Pelé wore a sombrero - a wide-brimmed hat typical of Mexico. Brazil won 4-1 against Italy at the World Cup. Photos from the time show how the football icon with the hat on his head is carried by enthusiastic fans to the trophy presentation.
