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David Beckham defends his controversial £10m Qatar World Cup deal, insisting 'engagement is the only way of making change' after he faced criticism for promoting the country due to its poor human rights record and anti-gay laws

Related Topics: David Beckham, Qatar

David Beckham has defended his controversial role as ambassador for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, believing that 'engagement is the only way of making change'.

Beckham, 48, was paid £10m to endorse the global showcase, but came under significant criticism for his decision.

Qatar bans same-sex relations, has a poor human rights record, and faced repeated allegations of the way they mistreated the migrant workers who built the stadiums and facilities used by the FIFA event.

During the tournament, Beckham was happy to talk up the football and the fan atmosphere - but frustrated organisers by not vocally aligning himself with Qatar's values.