Gareth Southgate was asked whether England should boycott the World Cup due to human rights issues at his latest Press conference. The England boss, like Eddie Howe in recent weeks, faced questions about the Middle East ahead of media calls to preview friendly games against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
England have made it to the finals in Qatar and was asked whether his side refusing to play in the tournament would make an impact.
Southgate said: "I don't really know what that achieves. Of course, it would be a big story but the tournament would go ahead.
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"I think as soon as we have entered the tournament, that is the point you decide. We've known for years [where it was going to be]. Is the stance against Qatar as a country or the specific issue?
"If it is Qatar as a country, then we are intertwined with other issues like we have seen with Russia with all sorts of investment in our country. Are we all going to stop shopping at Sainsbury's as a protest against Qatar? We are in such a complex world with deals as we have seen in Saudi Arabia recently."
Southgate then mentioned Newcastle United following the club's takeover last autumn with the Magpies 80% owned by PIF.
Southgate said: "On the one hand people are talking about the investment in Newcastle on the other we are going asking them to reduce oil prices so we can get our petrol cheaper. I think we are all observing and thinking this is really difficult. This is complicated. I know the issues themselves aren't but the repercussions and diplomatic relations are extremely complicated."
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