World Cup: French Journalist Stirs Backlash, Says ‘Qatar Has Too Many Mosques’

French Journalist and sports reporter Jacques Vendroux is provoking a widespread backlash over what many have labeled as “Islamophobic” remarks targeting Qatar.

Rabat – French Journalist and sports reporter Jacques Vendroux is provoking a widespread backlash over what many have labeled as “Islamophobic” remarks targeting Qatar.

While reporting on the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar last week, Vendroux said on air to French news channel CNews that “there are too many mosques” in Qatar in response to the question “how are things going at the World Cup?”

Vendroux’s comment sent the show’s host Pascal Praud and another guest into a fit of laughter in which Vendroux followed.

The incident stirred significant controversy from social media users who were offended by Vendroux’s statement, saying it was “blatant” offense to Qatar and Muslim communities. Social media celebrities also joined the voices denouncing the Islamophobic remarks.

French-Moroccan Comedian and social media celebrity, Amine Radi, commented on the remark earlier today in an Instagram post saying that “there are some people who simply feel superior to others for no apparent reason, and think that they are always right.”

The comedian continued, “I am not here to defend any party, but if you are going to judge, either judge everyone or don’t judge anyone at all,” Radi said pointing to the prevailing tendency among western countries to attack Qatar for hosting the World Cup over mixed allegations of labor exploitation.

Radi recognized that Qatar has received a disproportionate amount of criticism. “Qatar, because it is an Arab state and a Muslim country, everyone wants to attack it by all means possible,” he said indignantly.

Commenting on Vendroux’s statement, Radi said that it is “incredible how he (the journalist) is an Islamic country and is complaining about mosques.”

Enraged, the comedian drew the comparison between Vendroux’s comment and that of someone walking into a bar and complaining that there is too much alcohol.