THE swirling controversy surrounding the Qatar Fifa World Cup has given rise to that uniquely Western malaise otherwise known as rank hypocrisy.

This was artfully pointed out by Fifa President Gianni Infantino at what turned out to be the extraordinary press conference he hosted on the eve of the tournament to respond to the cascade of criticism at it being hosted by a state where human rights only exist in the breach, where a literalist interpretation of Islam rules the roost, and where even the very words “gay rights” are deemed blasphemous.

The sordid plight of Qatar’s army of migrant workers was also raised — justifiably — at the same press conference, and here again Infantino pushed back with some well-chosen barbs at the maltreatment of migrants and refugees in Europe, stating that the West is in no position to give moral lessons.