World Cup 2022 in Qatar - England's Conor Coady wants players to speak out on non-football issues at tournament
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Updated 18/11/2022 at 09:34 GMT
Conor Coady feels it is important for players to speak out about issues away from football. The Everton defender highlighted the work which Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford have undertaken in the community, and alluded to the importance of being role models. England begin their World Cup campaign against Iran on Monday afternoon, kick-off 1pm UK time.
Coady says ‘stick’ handed out to Maguire not warranted, backs fellow England man
Conor Coady believes players should speak up about issues outside football amid the controversial circumstances surrounding the 2022 World Cup.
The tournament kicks off in Qatar on Sunday, but the build-up has been marred with a raft of criticism surrounding the country’s human rights records, its reported treatment of migrant workers and for their anti-LGBTQ legislation.
"We're not politicians," said the Everton defender, in quotes published by BBC Sport.
"We'll never be politicians in terms of the way we look at things, but in terms of what the squad has done over the last few years and how much they've helped people, that comes with the territory.
"You look at Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling and the amount they've done off the pitch in helping people. It comes with being an England player because the lads are so open to speaking to the media and trying to help people as much as possible.
"It's great credit to them in terms of how they've gone about it. I don't think it's too much.
"I won't sit here and say the boys know everything because I don't think we do, but what we will do is try and help as much as we can. Over the last few years, the boys have done an incredible job of it.
"First and foremost, we are here to win games but if there is anything on top of that, as I say, we have a mature group."
Further instances regarding the treatment of migrant workers have come to light in recent days, in a recent report published by CNN.
They documented the stories of Nepali workers in the region, including a man named Kamal, who was arrested while standing outside a shop with other migrant workers. He was reportedly kept in a Qatari jail before he was deported to southern Nepal three months ago.
Meanwhile, Australia’s squad have published a social video highlighting the issues surrounding Qatar's human rights records and their treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ people.
Qatar begin the tournament with a match against Ecuador on Sunday, 4pm kick-off UK time. England’s first game is against Iran on Monday, 1pm kick-off.
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