Gianni Infantino
Infantino became Fifa's president in February 2016.
Host nation: Qatar Dates: 20 November-18 December Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. Day-by-day TV listings - Full coverage details

Infantino accused the west of hypocrisy in its reporting about the human rights record of the World Cup host country.

Infantino spoke for almost an hour and made a passionate defence of the tournament.

The deaths of migrant workers and the treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people have overshadowed the event.

Infantino said that European nations should apologize for their actions in their own histories.

Infantino said that he had strong feelings today. I feel Arab, African, gay, and disabled today.

The opening game of the tournament will be played at Al Bayt Stadium.

According to the Guardian, 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have died since it won the right to host the World Cup in 2020.

The numbers are based on figures provided by the embassies in the country.

The total was not true because not all of the deaths were related to the World Cup.

Infantino said he's European. We should apologize for what we've been doing for the next 3000 years.

If Europe really cared about the fate of these people, they could create legal channels where a number of these workers could come to Europe to work. Give them something to look forward to.

I can't understand the criticism. We need to help these people and give them a better future. Reform and change take time but we should educate ourselves.

It's a one-sided moral lesson. I don't understand why no one recognizes the progress made here.

Critics of a decision made 12 years ago are hard to take. It will be the best World Cup of all time.

They can defend themselves and I don't need to defend them. I'm a defender of football. I feel a lot of things as well, and I think that the progress of the country of Qatar is good.

I am not a migrant worker or a gay person. I know what it's like to be treated unfairly as a foreigner in a foreign country.

Infantino announced a "dedicated and permanent office" in Doha, following discussions with theQatar government and the ILO.

Every worker that has an accident is compensated by law.

He said it could be several years of salary.

25 million children and women in India will be helped by an agreement that will be signed by Infantino and the Indian government.

Alcohol u-turn 'a joint decision'

Alcohol will not be served at any of the World Cup stadiums two days before the tournament starts.

The sale of alcohol in the Muslim country is strictly controlled.

Corporate areas of stadiums will still be able to sell alcohol.

If this is the biggest issue we have for the World Cup, Infantino will resign and go to the beach.

Every decision made at the World Cup is a joint decision between the two governing bodies of the event.

There will be fan zones where you can buy alcohol and drink it at the same time. If you can't drink a beer for three hours a day, you'll live.

In France, Spain, Portugal and Scotland the same rules are applied. It has become a big deal because it is a Muslim country. I'm not sure why. The late change of policy is due to us trying. We tried to see if it could be done.

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