Manchester United Legend Blasts Qatar World Cup And Says He Won't Watch

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has said he won't watch the World Cup in Qatar this winter, due to deaths of workers during the building of stadiums.

The World Cup in Qatar has come in for lots of criticism, with it all kicking off as soon as it was announced, along with Russia as the 2018 hosts, back in 2010.

Further complaints followed when it was revealed the tournament would have to be moved to the winter, to get away from the searing summer heat.

There has been the issue with how the migrant workers in Qatar, who have been building the stadiums, have been treated, with reports of 6500 deaths during the building work.

Cantona has now gone in on the hosting of the World Cup in the Middle Eastern country, saying he will not be watching come November.

"To be honest, I don't really care about the next World Cup, which is not a real World Cup for me," the Frenchman told the Daily Mail.

"In the last decades, you had a lot of events like the Olympic Games or World Cups in countries that are emerging - like in Russia or China. 

Cantona isn't one to mince his words. Image: PA Images

"But Qatar - it's not the country of football. I'm not against the idea of hosting a World Cup in a country where there is a possibility to develop and promote football, like in South Africa or the United States in the 90's.

"Football is the most popular feminine sport in the United States, there is a lot of South American immigration, and a big potential for the sport to develop. 

"In fact, now in the United States, the sport which has the most licensed people is football. But in Qatar, the truth is that there is no such potential. There is nothing. It's only about money I think. 

"It's only about money and the way they treated the people who built the stadiums, it's horrible. And thousands of people died. And yet we will celebrate this World Cup.

"Personally, I will not watch it. I understand football is a business. But I thought it was the only place where everybody could have a chance."

The countdown clock for the World Cup in Doha. Image: PA Images

The winter World Cup means that the whole domestic season in Europe will have to stop for a few weeks, though players won't be given much time off.

In the Premier League the last round of fixtures will be on the 13th November, with the tournament then kicking off just eight days later, on the 21st.

The World Cup final will then take place on December 18th, and once again they'll only be an eight day turnaround before England's top tier returns for Boxing Day.

Topics: Football World Cup, Eric Cantona, Manchester United, FIFA