Alan Shearer believes countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia should 'absolutely' be held to account over their human rights records. The Newcastle United legend was asked about the subject during an extensive debate in the BBC Sport studio ahead of Ecuador's victory in the opening match of the World Cup.
A first-half double from Enner Valencia sealed a 2-0 win for the South American side on Sunday, as football took centre stage after weeks of debates focused upon off the field issues. Gianni Infantino urged countries to 'stick to football' ahead of the competition, while the FIFA president himself was heavily criticised for his hour-long speech on the eve of the tournament.
Shearer has previously been quizzed about Newcastle United's majority owners following the controversial takeover in October last year, admitting before he was left feeling 'conflicted' over the deal. While expressing his excitement at his former side's form under Eddie Howe, the pundit insists it is still right for countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia to be scrutinised over their human rights records.
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When asked about these 'conflicts of interest' by host Gary Lineker, Shearer told BBC Sport: "Well it's not just Newcastle Gary, it's not just football when you look at the F1, the boxing, the athletics, the LIV golf. We as fans don't get to choose where the World Cup is, just like we don't get to choose who invests in our football clubs.
"Do I love the impact it's had on Newcastle? Absolutely, Newcastle are buzzing and playing some great football. But also, do I think the Saudis and other countries should be held to account over human rights? Absolutely, yes."
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