Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has given an honest opinion on why players are not pleased about the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. It is less than seven days until the mundial kicks off for the first time in the Middle-East nation and why there is much anticipation as usual, criticism about the timing of the tournament has come in equal amount.
It is a peculiar World Cup because it is the first time the tournament will be held during a domestic season. Fernandes played in the final Premier League match before the break on Sunday, starring as United claimed a 2-1 win over Fulham, courtesy of a late Alejandro Garnacho winner at Craven Cottage.
The focus will now switch to the hugely controversial tournament in Qatar. Fernandes is part of the star-studded Portugal squad aiming to push their weight and battle for glory come the 18th of December.
However, the 28-year-old has claimed that players are not happy with the tournament. Thousands of migrant workers are reported to have died while building the stadiums in Qatar, which is one of Fernandes' main grievances.
He told Sky Sports: "Of course it's strange [the World Cup starting next week]. It's not exactly the time we want to be playing in the World Cup.
"Obviously I think for everyone, players and fans, it's not the best time. Kids will be at school, people will be working and 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 past few weeks, past few months, about the people that have died on the construction of the stadiums. We are not happy about that at all.
"We want football to be for everyone, everyone has to be included and involved in a World Cup because a World Cup is the world.
"It's for everyone, it doesn't matter who. These kind of things I think should not happen at any time. But for a World Cup it's more than football, it's a party for fans, players, something that's a joy to watch, should be done in a better way."
Fellow United star Christian Eriksen, is a key name in the Denmark squad, just 18 months after his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020. The Danish star also echoed the thoughts of Fernandes in criticizing the organisation of the tournament.
Eriksen said: "It starts and it's football, no matter where it is. It's football, we qualified and we'll play.
"A lot has been written, there's a lot of focus on how it's happened and why it's in Qatar. I don't agree with how it's happened but we're footballers and we play football. Change has to come from somewhere else."
