Qatar 2022: this World Cup has taken place in a crime scene | Marina Hyde

There has not been a single conviction and yet nothing changes with metaphorical bedsheets dutifully shielding the suspects

Two days out from the World Cup final, Qatar finishes hosting its tournament having very recently been declared a frontrunner in labour rights". Today," the declaration in question continued, the World Cup in Qatar is proof of how sports diplomacy can achieve a historic transformation of a country."

It feels only mildly unfortunate that the member of the European parliament who uttered these words three weeks ago is currently detained by Belgian police, after the discovery of almost 1m in banknotes in her marital home and a hotel room used by her father. After all, this has been a successful World Cup. Qatar has catapulted itself on to the world stage and won many plaudits. This timing is merely a freak coincidence.