Roy Keane offered a simple summary as the Qatar World Cup drew to a conclusion - insisting the tournament is "stained" irrespective of the football it has offered up.
The first World Cup to take place in the Middle East has been shrouded in controversy from the outset with a huge spotlight shone focused on the treatment of migrant workers, women, and the LGBTQ+ population. Those questions have continued to be raised throughout the tournament, which has delivered plenty of drama and excitement on the pitch.
Manchester United legend Keane has insisted the on-field product is irrelevant and that "this World Cup is stained" as a result of the backdrop beneath which it has been played.
Speaking on ITV Sport ahead of the final, Keane said: "For human rights, this World Cup is stained, that’s the bottom line. The football has been great, it was always going to be great because of the world class players but it is stained."
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Ian Wright continued the discussion over the issues involved and delved into some of the important questions which must be asked before the World Cup leaves Qatar.
Wright said: "The Workers support and insurance fund is there, they have paid some people but there are lot of people who still haven’t been paid and I know that FIFPro and the Federation have set up a programme where the workers can claim and get legal aid in expense of their claims. You’re hoping they can all get it done together because we’re leaving soon and we hope they can be paid."
Gary Neville, meanwhile, used the discussion to point out that the World Cup has "brought together" the Middle East - but claimed the working system in place is "abhorrent". He went on to draw the argument back to the UK and the current strikes taking place amongst a number of public sector workers.
Neville said: "I always thought it was a nonsense that you shouldn’t have a World Cup in the Middle East and in the Arab world, I think that’s been put to bed. You have to have a World Cup in every region and what the World Cup has done is brought this region together, a troubled region.
"I think that’s become more balanced throughout the World Cup but it doesn’t change the working system which, right the way through the region, and a working system through football that conversation has started. But it’s abhorrent and we should detest low pay, detest low pay and poor working conditions and that is something we can never accept in this region or in any region.
"It is just worth mentioning in our country, there is a country that is demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and terrifyingly, nurses. So in our country, we have to look at workers rights but certainly where football goes now, we have to pick up on worker’s rights wherever we go because people have to be equally treated.
"We can’t have people being paid pittance to work, people in accommodation which is unsavoury and disgusting, we can’t have that. It shouldn’t happen with the wealth that exists and it shouldn’t happen in our country where nurses are having to fight for an extra pound or £2."
