Sports Digest: Qatar’s emir lashes out at criticism ahead of FIFA World Cup – Press Herald

SOCCER

Qatar’s ruling emir on Tuesday lashed out at criticism of his country over its hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, describing it as an “unprecedented campaign” targeting the first Arab nation to hold the tournament.

Since winning hosting rights for the World Cup over a decade ago, Qatar has faced scrutiny and criticism for its treatment of migrant workers and the gay community, among other issues.

The alleged abuses affecting legions of low-paid laborers who power Qatar’s economy and who built its gleaming World Cup stadiums have been a lighting rod for protest around the world, especially in Europe.

Qatar has repeatedly pushed back, insisting the country has improved protections for migrant workers and claiming the criticism is outdated.

In a televised speech before the emirate’s legislative body on Tuesday, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said Qatar “has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has ever faced.”

“The campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people to question the real reasons and motives,” he said.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Cristiano Ronaldo returned to first-team training with Manchester United after being omitted from the squad ahead of the team’s  match at Chelsea at the weekend.

Ronaldo was disciplined for refusing to come on as a substitute in United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham in the league on Wednesday. He then headed to the locker room before the final whistle of the game at Old Trafford in a show of dissent.

United Manager Erik ten Hag said afterward that the Portugal striker “remains an important part of the squad” but had to be sanctioned for the sake of the culture within the team.

SPANISH LEAGUE: Villarreal hired former Barcelona coach Quique Setien to replace Unai Emery.

Emery left Monday to replace Steven Gerrard at Premier League club Aston Villa.

Setien signed a contract until the end of next season. He had not coached since being fired by Barcelona during the 2020-21 season.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Sevilla defeated visiting Copenhagen 3-0 to earn its first league win of the season.

Youssef En-Nesyri, Isco Alarcon and Gonzalo Montiel scored second-half goals for Sevilla.

• Kai Havertz’s second-half goal put Chelsea into the knockout stage with a 2-1 win at Salzburg.

SKIING

WORLD CUP: The new women’s cross-border downhill races in Zermatt-Cervinia scheduled for Nov. 5-6 have been canceled because of “unseasonably warm” conditions, organizers in Switzerland and Italy announced.

Men’s races the previous weekend on the same slope, which was to make its World Cup debut this season, had already been canceled.

TENNIS

SWISS INDOORS: On a stellar day for veteran Grand Slam champions, Stan Wawrinka beat third-ranked Casper Ruud and Andy Murray rallied to win in three sets in the first round at Basel, Switzerland.

Wawrinka hit his ninth ace to seal a 6-4, 6-4 win over Ruud, who was the U.S. Open runner-up last month.

Murray, a former U.S. Open champion like Wawrinka, earlier won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 against Roman Safiullin after the Russian led 4-1 in the final set.

AUTO RACING

INDYCAR: Colton Herta so firmly believes Andretti Autosport can return to the top of IndyCar that he announced a four-year extension through 2027 before Roger Penske or Chip Ganassi even got a shot at signing the American.

Herta’s current contract with Andretti runs through next season, and with his Formula One aspirations temporarily on hold, Herta believes he can win in IndyCar with Michael Andretti.

Andretti Autosport last won the IndyCar championship in 2012 and last won the Indianapolis 500 in 2016 with Alexander Rossi. With Rossi now headed to McLaren next year, Herta entering his fifth IndyCar season will be Andretti’s most veteran series driver.

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