The anger of fans when the BBC does not show the World Cup closing ceremony live on TV

The BBC has angered viewers again after opting not to broadcast the closing ceremony from Qatar ahead of this afternoon’s World Cup final.

The broadcaster intercepted flak last month when it decided not to show viewers the opening ceremony in doha in which ​​actor Morgan Freeman delivered a stirring monologue and Jung Kook from South Korean boy band BTS took the stage for a live performance.

Instead, the BBC showed a canned report on terrestrial television about Qatar’s questionable human rights record and the controversy surrounding the tournament. The opening ceremony could only be viewed on the red button or in BBC iPlayer.

But the channel was adamant, refusing to show the closing ceremony from Lusail City’s stadium, in what was widely perceived as a politically motivated sign of Qatar’s questionable human rights record and LGBTQ laws.

Performances during the organization’s closing ceremony ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar on December 18, 2022.

Davido, Ozuna and Gims perform during the organization closing ceremony ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar on December 18, 2022

BBC MOTD presenter Gary Lineker on BBC One today told viewers the BBC will focus on the action.

BBC football presenter Gary Lineker, broadcasting live from Qatar, told viewers: “As is usual with major football finals on BBC One, we will be focusing on the action.

“But if you prefer and want to watch the closing ceremony, it will be Live iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the red button.”

But angry social media users lashed out at the decision.

“We have biased stupid behavior from BBC again,” wrote one user. “ITV shows the brilliant closing ceremony.

“We pay the BBC to show programmes, it’s not their right not to show the opening or closing ceremony that we want to see.”

Another accused the station of virtue signaling and hypocrisy and directed the anger at moderator Lineker.

“The @BBC and the virtue signaling @garylineker of not showing the closing ceremony at #Qatar2022 says all you need to know about hypocrisy.

“They have soaked up the hospitality for the last month when they could [sic] have taken a stand and stayed in London if it really matters to them.’

A singer performs during the closing ceremony ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar

Performances during the organization’s closing ceremony ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar on December 18, 2022

The closing ceremony, which was not available to BBC viewers on terrestrial television, included a series of live performances by various singers and dancers, as well as an impressive pyrotechnic display

Angry social media users have been piling up over the BBC’s decision not to broadcast the World Cup closing ceremony on terrestrial television

To see the opening ceremony, viewers had to tune into the BBC Sport channel via iPlayer or find the relevant channel on the red button.

Tens of thousands of football fans dressed in French and Argentinian colors gathered at the Lusail Stadium ahead of the much-anticipated showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, both stars of Paris St Germain, which belongs to Doha.

Crowds crammed the Doha Metro, with Qatar Rail delaying access to stations as the closing ceremony began at the stadium with dancers celebrating “A Night to Remember”.

With 30 minutes to go, the stadium appeared to be three quarters full.

The crowd watched as Qatar’s Air Force planes flew over Lusail as the Gulf state also celebrated its national day, with thousands of police forces, including anti-riot squads armed with water cannons, securing the area.

Thousands also gathered outside the stadium to watch the game on giant screens.

“We have no tickets. We’re here for the national holiday and because the players might come out after the finish line. We just wanted to see them,” said Shafeek Mydheea, a tourist from Dubai, who was standing in front of two lines of riot police outside Lusail metro station.

DECEMBER 18: Choreography before the Closing Ceremony before the final of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Fireworks are pictured before the start of the final soccer match of Qatar 2022 World Cup between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail north of Doha December 18, 2022

Balls with the flags of some competing countries are seen during the closing ceremony ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final match between Argentina and France on December 18, 2022 at Lusail Stadium

LUSAIL CITY, QATAR – DECEMBER 18: Choreography before the Closing Ceremony

Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, which has been marred by controversy, was part of a carefully crafted strategy by the tiny but wealthy state to bolster its global influence.

The tournament has shone a spotlight on its human rights record – including the conditions imposed on foreign workers who built those stadiums and conservative laws that ban homosexuality, limit political expression and restrict alcohol sales.

In May, a coalition of human rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called on FIFA and Qatar to set up a compensation fund at least equal to the World Cup’s $440 million prize money for workers who were mistreated or died in Qatar. Neither FIFA nor Qatar approved the establishment of the fund.

Qatari authorities say decades of criticism of their country are unfair and misinformed, citing labor law reforms passed since 2018 and accusing some critics of racism and double standards.

“We have endeavored to ensure that this tournament is an accelerator to improve conditions for labor reform because, despite the best of intentions, the situation before was unacceptable,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar’s World Cup organizer , in an interview broadcast on Sky News.

“There is the Workers Support and Insurance Fund, which will look into all matters related to unfortunate deaths. And that will continue beyond the World Cup,” said Thawadi.