Jurgen Klopp has explained that it is wrong to expect players to protest while competing in the World Cup in Qatar.
The controversial tournament will kick off later this month and will take place during European winter time for the first time.
With the host nation’s questionable human rights record and strict rules surrounding issues such as homosexuality and alcohol laws, since 2010 there has been widespread outrage surrounding the decision to allow Qatar to host the tournament.
Some captains of the competing nations have agreed to wear ‘One Love’ armbands, but the Liverpool manager believes the criticism should be aimed at FIFA and the people who gave the right to host the tournament to the Gulf nation.
“I don’t like that we wait [the players] now to do something. They go there to play football,” the Liverpool manager told Sky News (via 90MIN).
“It’s not about players of this generation now saying, ‘We’re not going, or we’re not doing that.’ The decision [to hold the World Cup in Qatar] it was made by other people, and if you want to criticize someone, criticize the people who made the decision.”
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Numerous Liverpool stars including Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker and Darwin Nunez are expected to compete in the tournament with the final set to take place on December 18.
Diogo Jota has been ruled out of the tournament due to the hamstring injury he sustained during our win over Manchester City last month in what is a huge blow for the Portugal star.
Premier League action will resume on Boxing Day when the Reds travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa. Hopefully our No. 20 and Luis Diaz will be back fit and eager to play by then.
#Ep63 of the Podcast The Empire of the Kop: Klopp’s ridiculous accusations of xenophobia, Núñez shining… and more!
