Switzerland sidelined Bulgaria 4-0 to secure a spot for next year’s controversial World Cup in Qatar.

This content was published on November 16, 2021 – 10:20 AM

November 16, 2021 – 10:20 AM

Playing in Lucerne on Monday night, Switzerland qualified for a fifth consecutive World Cup in a certain style, having also touched the post twice and having two goals ruled out for offside as they made their way through the defense with ease. Bulgarian.

It was a special evening for Swiss captain Xherdan Shaqiri, who marked his 100th appearance with an excellent performance, preparing the Swiss opener.

“Everyone in the stadium is happy. Everyone is proud. Days as beautiful as this are rare, ”Shaqiri said.

“We must also thank [manager] Murat Yakin. It was not easy for him to follow at Vlado [Vladimir Petkovic’s] footprint. He did a great job. The team is in excellent shape. It’s fun to play with this team.

Switzerland are certainly enjoying a solid streak, having almost reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals delayed in July, losing on penalties to Spain.

Swiss newspapers also acknowledged on Tuesday the role of Petkovic, who resigned after the match after seven years in charge.

“Murat Yakin […] can now add more chapters to Petkovic’s fairy tale, ”wrote the Tages-Anzeiger. “A memorable football year ends with goosebumps.”

Corruption allegations

Switzerland’s multicultural team are now looking to Qatar, which will host 32 teams from around the world from November 21 to December 18 next year.

The choice of Qatar by FIFA, the governing body of world football based in Zurich, has been mired in controversy since the decision was announced in 2010.

Even former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, recently indicted for fraud and other crimes, admitted in 2014 that opting for Qatar was a mistake due to the heat. However, he denied rumors that the wealthy Gulf state had bought the tournament.

In 2020, the US Department of Justice made formal allegations in an indictment that bribes were paid to secure votesExternal link for the hosting rights of the tournament. According to prosecutors, representatives working for Russia (which hosted the 2018 World Cup) and Qatar bribed officials of the FIFA executive committee to shift voices in crucial hosting decisions. The organizers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have denied the allegations.

There is also the question of human rights. Earlier this year, the Guardian newspaper revealed how more than 6,500 migrant workers diedExternal link in Qatar since the award of the World Cup. He said it was likely that many of the deceased workers were employed on World Cup infrastructure projects, such as new stadiums, a new airport, roads and hotels.