Richard Keys takes aim at Alan Shearer after he criticised the Qatar World Cup

Richard Keys has taken aim at Alan Shearer for his critical views of the Qatar World Cup by pointing out how it ‘never bothered’ the Newcastle icon when he worked as a pundit for Qatari sports networks Al Jazeera and beIN SPORTS for ‘over a decade’.

As the curtain fell down on this year’s edition of the World Cup, Shearer claimed that the tournament felt as if ‘you’ve been living in a football theme park for the last month’ and brought up the deaths of the migrant workers.

Shearer said: ‘I think the reality of the World Cup is even more stark when you’ve been living in what feels like a football theme park for the last month.

Richard Keys (right) has taken aim at Alan Shearer (left) for his critical views of the World Cup

Shearer’s message was picked apart by beIN Sports broadcaster Keys on Twitter

‘If Disney did football tournaments… But we must remember the blood, sweat and tears of everyone that’s made it happen. And it’s only right, I think, that FIFA compensates the migrant workers and their families.’

Shearer’s message was picked apart by beIN Sports broadcaster Keys, who insists the legendary striker-turned-pundit was never vocal when he was being paid to work for either Qatari network. 

‘Oh dear @alanshearer Why didn’t you mention the things that bothered you in the near decade you worked for Al Jazeera & beINSPORTS? Be sure you have words with the current Newcastle Utd owners about the same issues eh?’ Keys tweeted.

Keys made reference to Newcastle’s controversial Saudi owners given the the state’s human rights record.

Shearer said the World Cup felt as if ‘you’ve been living in a theme park for the last month’

Previously, Amnesty international said that under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman – Saudi’s de facto ruler and who chairs the Public Investment Fund, which owns Newcastle – there had been a human rights crackdown in Saudi Arabia and that the grisly murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been covered up while it accused a Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen of indiscriminate attacks. 

Following the £305million takeover of Newcastle by a consortium dominated by the Saudi PIF in October last year, Shearer insisted countries like Saudi Arabia must be held to account for their human rights records while feeling ‘conflicted’ about the new ownership.

When asked about the controversial takeover by Gary Lineker, Shearer said on BBC Sport: ‘Well it’s not just Newcastle Gary, it’s not just football when you look at the F1, the boxing, the athletics, the LIV golf. 

Keys questioned whether Shearer would ‘have words’ with Newcastle’s Saudi-led ownership 

‘We as fans don’t get to choose where the World Cup is, just like we don’t get to choose who invests in our football clubs.

‘Do I love the impact it’s had on Newcastle? Absolutely, Newcastle are buzzing and playing some great football. But also, do I think the Saudis and other countries should be held to account over human rights? Absolutely, yes.’

Keys now works for the Qatari-owned channel beIN SPORTS after he famously left Sky in disgrace in 2011, after being sacked for making sexist remarks about female referee Sian Massey-Ellis.

More to follow