There have been worries expressed about possible terrorist attacks taking place in Qatar during the World Cup.
After it was discovered that supporters of the Islamic State pushed its followers to carry out terrorist attacks during the event in the Middle East, concerns were raised regarding the safety of football fans and teams traveling to Qatar for the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s England team is one of the 32 teams traveling to the month-long tournament in the Gulf, despite concerns about the country’s ideology regarding homosexuality being illegal in Qatar and issues relating to workers’ human rights abuse.
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Spanish news outlet Marca claims that IS supporters have been using the messaging software Telegram as a venue to communicate coded messages outlining specific assault plans.
According to the report, their strategy is to prepare attacks on the competition by picking on certain countries, including Western teams, that have attempted or successfully contributed to the fight against the Islamic State.
The IS has defended the attacks as being “terrorists are instructed to carry out attacks by being urged to “be part of the World Cup in Qatar and score your goals,” with followers being instructed to participate in “cleaning campaigns” The objective is open.” Others have mentioned “violent and biological” crimes against their alleged opponents, while some communications are more ambiguous.
According to reports in Spanish-language media, including La Razon, messages involving IS sympathizers planning to target members of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS have been seen. Those attacks might target supporters of a wide range of European nations, including Belgium, Canada, and France.
The news will further bolster the several organizations’ calls for England to boycott the competition owing to concerns expressed about the safety of LGBT individuals and the cost of lodging for visiting supporters.
Just a few days remain till the World Cup kicks off, 12 years after FIFA’s contentious decision to give it to Qatar in 2010.
Sepp Blatter, the ousted president, recently acknowledged for the first time that awarding the World Cup to Qatar, a nation with only 2.9 million people, was a “mistake.”
Human rights organizations urged travelers to cancel their reservations after The Guardian reported in February 2021 that over 6,500 migrant workers have perished while working on stadium and other tournament-related projects since the decision was made.
But after traveling to the Middle East earlier this week, Southgate’s 26-man team is scheduled to face Iran on November 21.
Although British police will already be in the country to help protect supporters traveling to Qatar, it is unclear whether security will be increased in reaction to the fear of a potential terrorist attack.