In response to FIFA's announcement that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup, International Union of Muslim Scholars head Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi said in a December 3, 2010 Friday sermon that "this is the first time we beat America in anything" and called it a victory for Muslims worldwide over the U.S. He said that Obama's statement against the FIFA decision "demonstrates that America wants to have a monopoly on everything," adding, "These people are the most arrogant on the face of the Earth."[1]
Following are excerpts from the sermon, which aired on Qatar TV on December 3, 2010:
To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/0/0/0/0/0/0/2712.
Visit, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi's page http://www.memri.org/subject/en/114.htm
Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: "I sat down yesterday, along with the people of Qatar, awaiting the results of the FIFI... What's it called? FIFA. So I was watching, until it got to the point where Qatar was competing with America. I was taken over by excitement, and I said: May God eliminate America, and grant success to Qatar.
"Indeed, America was eliminated, and Qatar was successful. Allah be praised. This is the first time we beat America in anything.
"My excitement was increased by Obama's statement. Obama appeared a little bit later, and delivered a really bad statement. He said that the FIFA decision was the 'wrong decision.'
"This is an indication of the bad politics of this man. He interfered in something that was done through elections and voting. It is inconceivable that Qatar can buy all these countries' votes, while the U.S. cannot. This demonstrates that America wants a monopoly on everything.
"These people are the most arrogant on the face of the Earth. They refuse to allow us to have anything. They want to have a monopoly on politics, a monopoly on the economy, a monopoly on weapons, a monopoly on soccer and other sports, a monopoly on everything, without leaving us anything, as if we were not part of this world." [...]
[1] See also "Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi: Decision To Hold 2022 World Cup In Qatar – A Blow To U.S., Triumph For Islam," http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/32587.htm.
