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Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has insisted “football is for everyone” as the domestic game prepares to halt for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
A number of the world’s biggest leagues will take a mid-season break for the tournament, which is being played in November and December instead of the usual June and July due to the climate in Qatar.
As well as the timing, there have been a number of concerns raised about the decision to allow Qatar to host the biggest tournament in football, such as human rights issues in the country, including reports of migrant worker deaths during the construction of the stadiums where the World Cup will be played.
The tournament gets underway on November 20, and speaking after United’s late 2-1 win at Fulham in their final Premier League match before then, Fernandes – who will represent Portugal in Qatar – did not hold back on his opinions when speaking to Sky Sports.
“Of course, it’s strange,” he said. “It’s not exactly the time we want to be playing in the World Cup. Obviously I think for everyone, players, fans, it’s not the best time because kids will be at school, people will be working, the timings will not be the best for people to watch the games.
“We know the surroundings of the World Cup what has been in the last few weeks, the last few months, about the people that have died at the construction of the stadiums.
“We are not happy for that at all. We want football to be for everyone, everyone has to be included and involved in the World Cup because it’s ‘world’, it is for everyone.
“These kind of things I think should not happen at any time, but a World Cup is more than football; it is a party for fans, players, and something that is pure joy to watch, and should be done in a better way.”
Erik ten Hag’s men secured an injury-time win at Craven Cottage on Sunday through teenager Alejandro Garnacho, after Christian Eriksen gave the Red Devils a first-half lead with his maiden goal for the club.
The Denmark international will also be going to Qatar, and simply said: “It’s football, no matter where it is. That’s why were are going to the World Cup, because we qualified and we’re just going to play football.”
