Qatar Monarch Dresses Messi in Arab Attire on World Cup Award Stage
"A Ceremonial Outfit Filled with Respect" vs. "Sportswashing to Cleanse Image"
On the 18th (local time), Argentine football player Lionel Messi, wearing a visit, is lifting the World Cup trophy. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, dressing Argentina's Lionel Messi in traditional Arab attire at the 2022 Qatar World Cup awards ceremony has sparked contrasting reactions in the Arab world and the West.
On the 18th (local time), foreign media such as the British Guardian and Daily Telegraph simultaneously reported on what the outfit Messi wore was and what it symbolized. Among them, the most critical stance was taken by the Daily Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph introduced the awards ceremony episode under the headline "A bizarre act that ruined the greatest moment in World Cup history."
The outfit the Qatari Emir dressed Messi in on the awards stage is called a "bisht," a traditional Arab garment. The bisht, with a history spanning thousands of years, is mainly worn by people of high status such as kings or clergy in the Arab world and is also used as formal wear for important events or weddings. It is worn draped over clothes like a cloak and is a formal garment similar to a Western tuxedo.
The Emir personally put Messi’s arm into the sleeve and dressed him in a black bisht, which has been positively received in the Arab world as "a sign of respect."
However, the Western reaction was quite the opposite.
The Telegraph sarcastically remarked, "It is unfortunate that the iconic sky-blue and white striped uniform of the Argentina national football team that Messi was wearing was covered by a gown-like garment." It added, "While presenting the bisht as a sign of respect was meaningful, the time and place should have been considered." The newspaper also offered its interpretation that "Messi appeared initially confused and unsure of what to do when he was dressed in the bisht."
Gary Lineker, a former football player and BBC broadcaster, also viewed the covering of the national team uniform by the bisht as "regrettable."
The Guardian reported that some have criticized dressing Messi in the bisht as another form of sportswashing. Sportswashing refers to a country or organization using the spirit of sports and the passion and emotion of competition to cover up wrongdoing and cleanse negative reputations or images.
The Qatar World Cup was continuously controversial due to issues such as migrant workers' human rights and oppression of sexual minorities, leading to boycott movements in some countries.
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