Eric Cantona suggests David Beckham has made 'big mistake' with World Cup ambassadorship

Eric Cantona has insisted that ex-professional footballers such as former Manchester United teammate David Beckham have made a 'big mistake' in becoming ambassadors for this winter's World Cup in Qatar.

There have been several major criticisms regarding the showpiece tournament, largely relating to Qatar's human rights record and its treatment of migrant workers.

Cantona, one of football's most outspoken and charismatic figures, revealed in January that he would be boycotting this year's World Cup.

"It’s only about money and the way they treated the people who built the stadiums, it’s horrible. And thousands of people died. And yet we will celebrate this World Cup. Personally, I will not watch it. I understand football is a business. But I thought it was the only place where everybody could have a chance," he told The Athletic.

He also said that he does not expect players to take up the same stance, adding: "If you have a player who says, ‘I will boycott the World Cup’, you say, ‘Bravo’. But you cannot condemn a 20-year-old player, who has a 10-year career, who lives in a world surrounded by people from football 24 hours per day.

"But do speak about the federations, speak about the politicians, who have the power to say, ‘No, we do not go to the World Cup’. We cannot be disappointed if players don’t want to boycott the World Cup, because at the top, the politicians, the presidents, the federations, the ministers…the real power, everywhere in the world, they have the power to boycott it. It is too easy to say the players."

Cantona was then asked what he thought of ex-players, such as global icon Beckham, endorsing the World Cup and Qatar's efforts in ambassadorial roles and if he would take on such a job.

"I would not do it at all. I do completely the opposite. In January 2022, I started to say that. Maybe I was the first one," he replied.

"But I am free to do it. And of course, an ex-player paid to do this kind of thing…It could be they don’t know what has happened there.

"Or, if they know it, I think they did wrong. I think they made a big mistake. A big, big mistake."