Tim Cahill has been on an inevitable collision course with his former Socceroos teammates for more than two years.
The greatest Socceroo of all time has on several times come under fire for his controversial position as a member of the Qatar World Cup’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.
In 2020, Cahill was made an ambassador for the World Cup starting next week saying: “I think joining the (Supreme Committee) family was a natural progression for me.”
But the role was called a “load of crap” by former Socceroo Robbie Slater when it was announced two years ago.
Now it is all coming to a head with the Socceroos just days away from their 2022 World Cup opener against France on November 23 at 6am AEDT.
Forgotten in the wake of the Socceroos’ world-leading unanimous statement of condemnation of the World Cup host earlier this year was Cahill’s own position as an ambassador for the Arab country.
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The 42-year-old sits alongside football icon David Beckham as among the highest profile stars being paid to spruik the virtues of the Gulf state.
Cahill, Spanish legend Xavi, Cameroon great Samuel Eto’o and Brazilian icon Cafu — all ambassadors for Qatar 2022 — must all be thankful that Beckham has largely shielded them by taking the brunt of the world’s criticism.
The former England and Manchester United star has signed a 10-year deal worth a reported $A266 million to promote the World Cup and its host nation Qatar.
Socceroos great Craig Foster this week slammed Beckham over the Arab nation’s discrimination against gay people and women, as well as its human rights record.
“Not saying anything about the criminalisation of the LGBTI community in Qatar is absolutely horrendous,” Foster said.
“He’s been called on by various people in the UK to change his stance. I hope he does.
“His incredible brand known all around the world… he actually has an opportunity to try and create significant impact and even change there in Qatar, so I hope he uses it.”
Foster has now called on Cahill to speak out, telling the Daily Mail Australia: “I would love for Tim Cahill to have spoken out and to say something now – and I hope that he does so.
“The difference between the two is that David has created as part of his brand, has been seen as a close ally of the LGBTI community.
‘Then he has refused to say anything about the criminalisation of the LGBTI community in Qatar.
‘From Tim’s perspective, he really has said nothing, whether it’s the migrant workers, the LGBTI community, women’s rights and other things.
‘So Tim is in the vast position as the vast majority of former players and I would love all of them to speak out, including Tim.
‘I think they have a responsibility to do so.”
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and Muslims found breaking the strict Islamic law can face the death penalty.
Qatar was controversially awarded the rights to host the biggest sporting event on the planet in 2010 despite a lack of facilities and the prospect of playing the tournament in hot desert conditions.
Qatar has since completed a $A470 billion construction extravaganza — at the cost of an estimated 6500 construction workers’ lives.
The argument defending Beckham and Cahill has always been that there is a belief that the nation has begun to improve on its abysmal human rights record and the unifying power of football and the World Cup will continue that trajectory. This is a heavily-debated argument.
Cahill’s own website says part of his ambassador role is to promote “legacy” programs from the World Cup, including workers’ welfare.
But his role puts him at odds with a powerful statement from the Socceroos in the lead up to the tournament.
Sixteen players read lines from a collective statement calling for an “effective remedy” to Qatar’s human rights issues.
“Addressing these issues is not easy. And we do not have all the answers,” the Australian players said.
“We stand with FIFPro, the Building and Wood Workers International, and the International Trade Union Confederation, seeking to embed reforms and establish a lasting legacy in Qatar. This must include establishing a migrant resource centre, effective remedy for those who have been denied their rights, and the decriminalisation of all same-sex relationships.
“These are the basic rights that should be afforded to all and will ensure continued progress in Qatar … [and] a legacy that goes well beyond the final whistle of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
It must no doubt be making for some awkward moments in the Socceroos’ camp in Qatar right now with the legendary goal-scorer working with the team as Australia’s head of delegation at the World Cup. He is also working as a coaching consultant alongside coach Graham Arnold.
Cahill currently lives in Doha and is the chief sports officer at the $1.3 billion Aspire Academy facilities where the Socceroos will be based during the tournament. The use of the world-class facilities reportedly makes the Socceroos the envy of most of the national teams in Qatar right now and Cahill helped organise the deal.
Cahill was last year recognised in the 2021 Australia Day Honours list with an Order of Australia (AO) for services to Football and charitable work.
He was previously an ambassador for UNICEF Australia and Heartbeat of Football – an Australian organisation that promotes heart health through football.
He has also spoken about the criticism of his role with Qatar, saying it was about making a change for good.
“I have a massive influence now working with FIFA and Qatar. Stadiums getting built, we get to help with the production of that,” he told Nine in 2020.
“We get to work on programs like the ‘worker’s welfare’, 30,000 workers – how they live, the certificates, things that they need, their pay.”
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater said in 2020 Cahill’s role with Qatar was “unnecessary and a poor choice”.
“Look, I think this is a poor choice, I’m sorry. We all love Timmy of course, he’s our greatest Socceroo — that’s undoubtedly his title,” Slater said.
“It (Cahill’s appointment) all sounds like a load of crap to me. It’s up to them, they can call it what they want but I don’t agree that Tim should be on it, I’m sorry. I think it’s a poor choice.
“I’m not a left-wing activist who is going to go out there and protest but I think this is a poor choice.”
To make matters worse for Cahill, there are clearly members of the Socceroos squad who are activists.
Jackson Irvine has on several occasions spoken out in condemning Qatar’s human rights abuses. The star midfielder is the co-captain of the famously left wing-leaning St Pauli club in Germany and has an extensive track record in supporting LGBTIQ+ causes and was active in the Black Lives Matter movement.
“There’s an ethical dilemma,” he said last month about going to Qatar.
“The more and more I’ve learned about these issues, it’s abundantly clear that you’re going to be torn about being there — as we have been for a long time already.
“But at the end of the day, these decisions are not things that we’re part of. Your influence is not so direct in that way. One you know that, then that’s why myself and I’m sure many others feel we have an obligation to speak about the other side of things.”
At the time of his appointment, Cahill hit back at Slater and his critics.
“My role is an influential role in world football,” he said.
“It’s not about certain issues that people are attacking me for. It’s one of those things. I don’t take anything to heart because it’s just a perception of what they see, or feel. How people interpret what they want to interpret, I’m totally fine with that.
“I don’t have any real comment on their feelings because I’m of a different influence, being named one of four global ambassadors that can help make a big change [to Qatar].”
