Organizer Qatar pays football fans to travel to the World Cup and hopes for positive pictures and news about the controversial tournament. British fans seem to have failed even before the opening game: a report accuses them of discriminatory behavior.
The Football Association (FA) is investigating allegations of racism against a group of fans sponsored by hosts Qatar at the upcoming World Cup, according to a report. The Football Association told the Times newspaper, which reported on the cases, that the allegations of racism had been reported to the police.
According to the newspaper, members of the Block 109 fan association are said to have exchanged racist, homophobic and sexist images and comments in WhatsApp chats - such as jokes about British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Indian roots or hostilities against people of Arabic origin.
According to the Football Association, it also wants to check whether there have been violations of the rules of the so-called England Supporters Travel Club and whether sanctions are necessary. According to the "Times", several of the accused belong to this club and have had the privilege of buying tickets in groups for England games, for example. These privileges could be removed if the allegations are true.
One of the WhatsApp group's administrators is said to have received an official warning from the Football Association after describing a former fan group member as a pedophile in a social media video. The administrator told The Times in a statement regarding the allegations that in retrospect he regretted some actions and apologized for having offended people.
According to the Times, eight of the members of the Block 109 fan group are part of a group of 40 England fans selected by Qatar, who will be paid for flights to the World Cup, accommodation and tickets. In return, they should present the tournament positively, among other things.
