Qatar is paying football fans to post positive messages on social media. This is called “micro-influencing” and is part of an unprecedented major public relations campaign by Qatar, along with the hundreds of millions earmarked for “macro-influencing” by, for example, ex-soccer players such as Ronald de Boer and David Beckham. And this campaign seems mainly aimed at diverting attention from the abuses in the country.

NOS Editor Brian van der Bol spoke to several Orange fans who accepted Qatar’s offer of free flights, accommodation and tickets to the opening game. He also owns the code of conduct that fans had to sign. Because what belongs to what. Brian talks about it on the podcast.

Historian Paul Reef is writing a dissertation at Radboud University on protests at major sporting events and attempts by host countries to quell criticism. According to him, Qatar is going a step further than previously seen. And seen from there: with success.

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