Skip to content

“So many unknowns” – BBC’s Mark Chapman on documenting the 2022 FIFA World Cup

  • reporter 

By Ryan Sharp

BBC Presenter Mark Chapman says they “are in contact with Amnesty International” to ensure the BBC’s coverage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is as accurate and professional as possible, whilst also ensuring the event maintains its entertainment value.

Speaking at Leeds Trinity’s annual Journalism and Media week, Chapman said: “I have to take my opinion out of it.

“You’re trying to find the right line between social politics and sport.

“I have to be comfortable in my own decisions. If other people want to judge me that’s fine, you do what’s right for you.”

The World Cup is set to start on 20 November and is seen as something of an outlier in comparison to years gone by. Qatar- the smallest nation to host the World Cup- has been questioned as to whether their strict laws around human rights are humane enough to consider the event’s main principle- unity.

There have been questions raised around how the event will be broadcast from a neutral perspective.

Qatari laws prohibit homosexuality, and same-sexual conduct is punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Mark Chapman expresses his thoughts on Qatar 2022

Chapman said how it is difficult for him to detach from current affairs when presenting such an event.

He said: “I don’t think you can, really.

“You can’t detach yourself from it, because you’re walking past it every day.

“In the same way, that we are going to be broadcasting from stadiums in Qatar where we understand people have died building them.”

It was reported that 37 construction workers had died whilst building the arenas that will host a total of 64 games across a four-week period.

Chapman also made it clear that there is a “challenge to set a scene in the right way”, as he understands that despite all the animosity, “there will still be a football match going on”.

What do you think?