David Beckham has offered an exclusive statement over his £150million Qatar ambassadorship to Joe Lycett after the comedian threatened to shred £10,000 of his own cash before the World Cup.
The former England captain has been heavily criticised for his partnership with the Middle Eastern country because of their poor Human Rights record and the fact that same-sex relationships are illegal.
Although Beckham was silent at the time of Lycett’s pledge, with it later revealed that fake cash was shredded with the real money being donated to charity – he has now responded.
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Joe wrote to his 1.3 million Twitter followers: “David Beckham’s team have issued my programme with an exclusive statement, which will be broadcast tonight as part of my Got Your Back special at 9pm on Channel 4.
“As far as we are aware this is the only statement he or his team have given to any outlet regarding his involvement in Qatar.
“I have been advised that legally I cannot give my opinion on it, so you’ll have to make up your own minds.
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(Image: @joelycett/Instagram)
“We also speak to some LGBTQ+ football teams and Dr Nasser Mohamed, the first openly gay Qatari, who Beckham blocked on Instagram. We also reunite some of the cast of Footballers’ Wives lol.
“I’d like to thank the Got Your Back team and the team at Channel 4 for their extraordinary hard work on this project.”
Lycett’s Channel 4 show is set to share the statement from Beckham’s team on Thursday evening (December 15), three days before the World Cup final.
(Image: Getty Images)
Beckham, 47, has a 10-year deal with Qatar, and said of the ongoing tournament: “Qatar dreamed of bringing the World Cup to a place that it had never been before, but that it wouldn’t be enough just to achieve things on the pitch.
“The pitch would be a platform for progress.”
He added: “Dreams can come true. That is why you are here.”
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