dan roan talking _ occasion. it certainly is. dan roan talking about - occasion. it certainly is.about the big l roan talking about the big match later today at the world cup. two ukrainian opera houses have been recognised at this year's "opera oscars" for offering up music in the midst of power cuts and artillery blasts. as fighting in ukraine rages on, the opera houses were applauded for giving audiences a chance to escape the day to day reality of war. tom brada reports. hitting the harmonious high notes in the most trying of circumstances. two opera houses from ukraine have won this year's company of the year prize at the international opera awards.— prize at the international opera awards. it's my great pleasure — opera awards. it's my great pleasure to _ opera awards. it's my great pleasure to declare - opera awards. it's my great pleasure to declare both - opera awards. it's my great pleasure to declare both of| pleasure to declare both of these companies as joint winners. these companies as “oint winnersfi these companies as “oint winners. ., ., , , these companies as “oin

here's our sports editor, dan roan. his report contains flashing images. doha but fifa has been heavily criticised for bringing the tournament here amid human rights concerns. and today at a press conference its president gianni infantino tried to hit back in an extraordinary monologue. tatiana;r in an extraordinary monologue. today i feel arab. today _ in an extraordinary monologue. today i feel arab. today i _ in an extraordinary monologue. today i feel arab. today i feel _ in an extraordinary monologue. today i feel arab. today i feel african. - i feel arab. today i feel african. today i feel gay. today i feel disabled. today i feel a migrant worker. ifeel like them because i know what it means to be discriminated.— know what it means to be discriminated. �* . ., , , discriminated. but that was 'ust the start. infantino * discriminated. but that was 'ust the start. infantino then fi discriminated. but that was just the start. infantino then appeared - discriminated. but that was just the start. infantino then appeared to i start. infantino then appeared

dan roan with the latest, _ forward to this evening.. - the government has dropped measures which would force big tech companies to remove legal but harmful content. it will make it a criminal offence to publish certain types of pornography, and content encouraging self—harm and suicide. social media firms could be fined if they fail to stop children who are too young from being on their platforms. and platforms should make it possible for adult users to block more types of material they don't want to see. angus crawford reports. it's molly russell's story perhaps more than any other that influenced this bill. she took her own life after being exposed to a stream of content about suicide, depression and self—harm. the coroner at her inquest singled out the systems or algorithms which relentlessly pushed harmful material at her. the 0nline safety bill does complete... a bill tabled... we will be proceeding with the 0nline safety bill... ..delayed. .. well, can i thank my honourable friend... | ..and amended. it's taken years, but will be

our sports editor dan roan has the latest from doha.giving wales the fondest of farewells in cardiff today at a final training session before leaving for the world cup — a journey this team has waited 64 years to make. for the kids to have wales, their country, being able to watch them and have the actual kind of poster up on the wall to mark out each game will be incredible. earlier this evening, england landed here in doha on the "rain bow," a virgin atlantic plane displaying oscar, its lgbt icon, in a show of support for inclusivity at a tournament that this team are amongst the favourites to win. we try not to think that far ahead, but, of course, that's the dream. that's what we are aiming to do. we will have to wait and see. it'll be a tough tournament. starting monday, it'll be a tough game, and we know that, so we have to prepare for that, but i'm really excited to get going. this, meanwhile, is where england will be based as they bid for world cup glory. this luxury seaside resort in al wakrah on the outskirts of doha the team

jeremy, our sports editor dan roan - only a club but a business.st interviewed the saudi sports minister. they are after ronaldo as well. given the manner in which he left man united, acrimonious, there has been some bad publicity around that, do you think that is damage to him and his brand in any way? his. that, do you think that is damage to him and his brand in any way? no, he is so far down — him and his brand in any way? no, he is so far down the _ him and his brand in any way? no, he is so far down the path. _ him and his brand in any way? no, he is so far down the path. at the - him and his brand in any way? no, he is so far down the path. at the end i is so far down the path. at the end of the _ is so far down the path. at the end of the day, — is so far down the path. at the end of the day, it— is so far down the path. at the end of the day, it was not a good fit, he did not— of the day, it was not a good fit, he did not like was going on there, they did _ he did not like was going on there, they did not like what he was saying in the _ t

dan roan, the bbc�*s sports editor.haps themselves, by agreeing to work towards limiting the rise in the world's average temperatures to around 1.5 degrees. but signing bits of paper isn't the same thing as taking painful decisions or spending real money. and now, these seven years later, it seems pretty clear we'll have to forget about the limit of 1.5 degrees. the worlds in the process of heating up much more than that. and the other target that's been missed is the $100 billion which the wealthy countries of the world promised to pay to the developing countries, in order to help with the cost of global warming. and there's china, the second biggest economy on earth, which maintains it doesn't have to pay because it too is a developing country. china, by the way, according to recent figures, has produced more co2 emissions in the last eight years or so than britain has produced since 1750. so, there we are, national self—interest rules and the planet continues to heat up alarmingly. well, let's see if cop27 can give u

dan roan, bbc news.y is due to hold a news conference in a short while. that is all for now. hello there. it was a stormy end to wednesday, low pressure sweeping rain and gales across the uk. as we move into thursday, though, we'll see some improvements with some sunshine around, one or two showers, but it will stay quite wet in the southeast as the overnight rain band lingers. and you can see here on the pressure chart, eventually, it'll wriggle away as we move into thursday afternoon, but this new area of low pressure will bring increasing showers to the southwest quadrant of the country along with strengthening winds. you notice the blue hue there on the temperature map. it will feel cooler across the northern half of the country throughout the day today. so a wet, damp morning across the southeast. eventually, that should clear away into the afternoon. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around, one or two showers. most of the showers affecting wales and the southwest of england, with increasing winds here

dan roan, bbc news, doha.talks, delegates at the un climate summit in egypt are negotiating late into the night to try to reach a major agreement. it appears as if a deal could be settled on giving money to developing countries for loss and damage already caused by global warming. 0ur climate editor justin rowlatt is in sharm el—shiekh and sent this report. it has been a day of bargaining and brinkmanship here in egypt. the european union said it would walk away from the talks if the final deal doesn't have ambitious targets for cutting emissions. we want a good decision. but it's better to have no decision than a bad decision. we still believe a good decision is within reach, but all partners will have to work very hard to make that possible. developing countries have been demanding a fund to help pay for the loss and damage climate change is already wreaking in vulnerable countries, like the terrible floods in pakistan this summer. as workmen began to dismantle the now empty pavilions, talks on this remained

dan roan, bbc news.an prime minister imran khan has addressed hundreds of thousands of supporters in rawalpindi, telling them his one regret from his time in office was failing to bring the corrupt and the powerful to justice. the rally brings to a close the so called �*long march�* — by imran khan's pti party — aimed at pressing the government to call a snap election. samira hussein reports. they came by the hundreds and hundreds quickly became thousands. all converging on a three km strip of road. security was tight. the last time imran khan spoke in public he was shot. the government warned of possible attacks today. his supporters came anyway. that's how strongly they believe in the cause. his cause is a people of pakistan. not himself. he is out for us. so, that's why we are supporting and we are coming here for our leader who is supporting us. there is one man only who has been raising his voice against i all of the establishment. he is there to look forward. he has given us a vision. as day turned

dan roan, bbc news, at the lusail stadium.to the last 16 after another win. you'll also find details of defeats for wales and england in their rugby union internationals. that's almost it for today — before we go, here's laura kuenssberg about what's on her show tomorrow. so many of us have been caught up in the rail strikes today. we'll be asking the transport secretary in the morning just how he plans to fix it, and we will have a bit of mathematics and football magic. find out more on bbc one at nine in the morning. that's all from me. goodnight. strong southerly winds brought mild air to everyone today, with temperatures reaching 15 in northern scotland and those same winds are hello, it's not been a pleasant day today. grey skies and outbreaks of rain. a bit better tomorrow but for the rest of this evening and overnight we can expect more rain. having said that. later in the night the weather should start to improve across northern and western areas of the uk. this is the weather front that crossing the country right now.

here's our sports editor, dan roan. messi!ieved in the game, glory on football's greatest stage has proved elusive for lionel messi. argentina's fans aware if they lost to mexico, he and his team would be out of this, his final world cup. this felt like the tournament's biggest occasion yet and in a raucous atmosphere, it was clear that this was going to be a scrap. after a shock opening defeat against saudi arabia, argentina were desperate for a win but it was their central american opponents who went closest. alexis vega forcing emi martinez into action. this seemed made for messi but while that chance disappointed, he quickly made amends. commentator: argentina's saviour! messi — who else? — with a moment of magic when it was needed most. his eighth world cup goal giving his side the lead they craved. argentina were now in control and late on, enzo fernandez made sure. his delightfulfinish sealing his team's first win of this world cup and they will now progress with victory against poland next week. argentina are one of th

our sports editor dan roan is in doha. dan?y over alleged corruption, the treatment of migrant workers and discriminatory laws, this moment could not come quick enough at the hosts. qatar had high hopes notjust for the tournament but for their team, but things did not go to plan on the pitch at the start of this, a world cup like no other. to many it still seems surreal, but the first winter world cup was here. after a build—up mired in controversy, these are the images the hosts wanted their tournament to project. the uniqueness of a first world cup in the middle east, evident with her fans from around the globe at the bedouin tent—inspired stadium, one of seven built especially for this moment, whatever the cost. the opening ceremony was an impressive and colourful celebration with an international flavour. hollywood actor, morgan freeman, narrating the first section and with the message of unity. football spans the world. unites nations in their love of the beautiful game. what brings together nations also brings together co

dan roan, bbc news, doha. sports journalist and author mihir bose gave me his reaction to fifa boss's comments. extraordinary. i don't know who wrote it for him, but whoever was the scriptwriter, he or she should be shoked, because i must say, i've covered several fifa world cups going back more than 30 years, and i knew many of the presidents. i cannot believe anybody is making a speech like this. actually what he has done is trivialise the whole issue and insulted a lot of immigrants. he spoke about the fact that he had red hair and therefore he was bullied. welcome he could have changed the colour of his hair, he shouldn't have been bullied, but he could have changed the colour of his hair. people cannot change the colour of their skin. does he know that? what they suffer from the colour of their skin, myself, am an immigrant, it is tremendous. so for him to equate himself with the migraines who have been to qatar i think is really quite shocking. then to talk about, you know, how all this doesn't matter. y

dan roan, bbc news, doha.aller craig foster, who's now a human rights and refugee ambassador. in fact, becoming a figure who wants to be seen to pit west against east. about but as soon as economics are involved — or politics, in infantino's case — they dispense with so very, very quickly, was the right question and there is no response. in fact, infantino said well, the real power is through the ball. that's exactly the point — human rights policy and therefore, you're obligated to bring that to life, but let's put that aside for the moment. you know, these comments, to say that let's just get on with football and don't worry about humans are so ridiculous that they're bordering on being dangerous but it does show, i think, perhaps the political nature he's trying to gain support — he's of course about to be surrounded it? well, it definitely has but it is actually a really powerful moment in i guess in the sport and rights movement, but in global sport overall, this next month is an opportunity for us all to

dan roan reports., the most powerful figure in football was all smiles at a world cup legacy event in doha, but fifa has been heavily criticised for bringing the tournament here amid human rights concerns. and today at a press conference its president, gianni infantino, tried to hit back in an extraordinary monologue. today, i feel arab. today, i feel african. today, i feel gay. today, i feel disabled. today, ifeel a migrant worker. ifeel like them because i know what it means to be discriminated. but that was just the start. infantino then appearing to liken his own experience as a redheaded child of immigrants in switzerland to the plight of gay people in the middle east. as a foreigner, in a foreign country, as a child at school i was bullied because i had red hair. qatar has been under mounting scrutiny, especially in europe, over its treatment of migrant workers and the lgbt community. infantino then turned on the critics. i think for what we europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years aroun

dan roan, bbc news, doha.the former australian footballer craig foster, who's now a human rights and refugee ambassador. i began by asking his thoughts on infantino�*s remarks. his comments are very dangerous in trying to reference history. issues which have nothing to do with the human rights transgressions that we've seen related to this world cup and, in fact, becoming a figure who wants to be seen to pit west against east. absolutely horrendous comments, bizarre, from the fifa president, but the question that dan put to him to say, well, isn't it hypocritical for fifa to stand with their own statutes on human rights and also non—discrimination statutes and principles which they speak so endlessly about but as soon as economics are involved — or politics, in infantino�*s case — they dispense with so very, very quickly, was the right question and there is no response. in fact, infantino said well, the real power is through the ball. that's exactly the point — the ball should represent human rights, notwithst

that was our sports editor dan roan reporting from doha.otball fan and the author of the making of the fifa world cup, jack davies. what did you think of gianni infantino cosmic speech this morning?— infantino cosmic speech this morninu? . ., ., morning? thanks for having me. it was 'ust morning? thanks for having me. it wasiust quite _ morning? thanks for having me. it wasjust quite astonishing, - morning? thanks for having me. it wasjust quite astonishing, really. | was just quite astonishing, really. to see some of the stuff he was coming outwith, he was obviously trying to sweep aside the many legitimate concerns people have about this tournament, whether you are a woman, migrant worker, lgbtq+ supporter, orjust general supporters. this is not a world cup that should be realistically going ahead anyway as andy plays it has and infantino really has portrayed himself as being a sort —— an as opposed to set latter and the corruption allegations, but it sounds all very similar and i do not think we should be overly surprised —— sepp blatter

dan roan, bbc news, doha.ports journalist adam leventhal, host of the athletic football podcast. before we get to the football, just a word on what we before we get to the football, just a word on what we heard, what gianni infantino said. what kind of an impact do you think that impassioned statement will have? i think that impassioned statement will have? i think it has left quite _ statement will have? i think it has left quite a _ statement will have? i think it has left quite a lot _ statement will have? i think it has left quite a lot of- statement will have? i think it has left quite a lot of people | has left quite a lot of people rather confused. i think it certainly left a lot of people angry. especially those that gianni infantino was referring to, at the top of the rambling, rambling monologue speech, that he gave at the fifa media centre headquarters earlier on. in reference to how qatar receives that speech, i'm not sure they will be entirely on—board with everything he said because it was someth

dan roan, bbc news, doha. lgbt+ groups, not to mention its treatment of migrant workers, means some fans have turned their backs on the world cup. but what is also interesting is the uk's relationship with qatar. even if you're not visiting for the world cup, chances are you may be unwittingly funding qatar's government — without even leaving home. that's because qatar — a country smaller than wales — owns one of the world's largest natural gas reserves, owns one of the world's largest producing 77 millon tonnes per year. around half of our gas is imported, about half of that via pipeline from norway. but it's qatar that typically takes second place on that list, supplying perhaps 9% of our energy imports. in theory, that's capable of fuelling around a million british homes. that could rise as we look to secure more supply as north sea reserves dwindle and we move away from russia. qatar could be a key part of europe's energy security plan, too. while italy bought more of its gas than we did in 2021, it only a

dan roan, bbc news, at the lusail stadium.peak to mexican—american miguel espino, who is tipping argentina to win the world cup despite his national affiliation. thank you so much forjoining me. how did it feel to see argentina win this game and mexico lose out?— mexico lose out? definitely bittersweet, _ mexico lose out? definitely bittersweet, definitely - mexico lose out? definitely bittersweet, definitely was | bittersweet, definitely was cheering for mexico but knowing i had picked argentina because of messi is my favourite player to win the championship, it was bittersweet but we still have a chance to progress, mexico, so capable live. chance to progress, mexico, so capable live-— capable live. were you satisfied _ capable live. were you satisfied with - capable live. were you satisfied with mexico's performance?- satisfied with mexico's performance? satisfied with mexico's erformance? ., ., ., . ., performance? not at all. we are still missing _ performance? not at all. we are still missing the _ performance? not at al

dan roan, bbc news, st george's park.the 169 target set for them by india with ease. captainjos buttler smashed a six to bring up the winning run. he and fellow opener alex hales remained undefeated as england won by ten wickets. they'll play pakistan in the final on sunday. the adelaide oval is a striking example of modern cricket architecture and for some of the most celebrated players india were expected to hit sixes but they struggled. missing the fastest bowler, the unfit mark wood, england clung on to everything. has bowler, the unfit mark wood, england clung on to everything.— clung on to everything. has it been taken? i do — clung on to everything. has it been taken? i do wish _ clung on to everything. has it been taken? i do wish it _ clung on to everything. has it been taken? i do wish it was _ clung on to everything. has it been taken? i do wish it was my - clung on to everything. has it been taken? i do wish it was my catch i clung on to everything. has it beenj taken? i do wish it was my catch to dismiss vira

dan roan, our sports editor.son. they'll be talking about the armbands row, allegations of fake fans, and launching the newscast sweepsta ke. search for newscast on bbc sounds. if an earthquake has struck the main indonesian island ofjava, an earthquake has struck the main indonesian island of java, leaving at least 162 people dead and hundreds injured, according to the local governor. buildings have been destroyed and rescuers are still trying to find survivors. the epicentre of the earthquake, which recorded a magnitude of 5.6, was close to chianjur town in westjava in an area which is densely populated and vulnerable to landslides. our correspondent valdya baraputri reports from chianjur. as the shaking subsided, shocked residents stood out on the streets of cianjur to take in the damage done to their homes. it was extensive. by indonesian standards, this was not an especially powerful earthquake, but it was shallow — close to the earth's surface, enough to cause hundreds of buildings to collapse as it struck

dan roan, bbc news, doha. foster, a former australian footballer, now a tv pundit and human rights and refugee ambassador. craig, thank you very much for your time here on bbc news. pleasure. your time here on bbc news. pleasure-— your time here on bbc news. pleasure. ~ . , ., ., ~ ., pleasure. what did you make of gianni infantino's _ pleasure. what did you make of gianni infantino's address. - pleasure. what did you make of gianni infantino's address. i - gianni infantino's address. i thought it was a good report from dan and the question that he asked gianni infantino, who i think is in danger of becoming a comicalfigure, really, and certainly a divisive one and his comments are very dangerous in trying to reference history issues which have nothing to do with the human rights transgressions that were seen related to this world cup and in fact becoming a figure who wants to be seem to pit west against east. absolutely horrendous comments, bizarre, from the fifa president but the question that dan put to him

dan roan, thank you, live in qatar.istory of the nhs. the dispute is over pay, and the strikes will be for 12 hours on 15th and 20th december. the royal college of nursing says its members "have had enough of being taken for granted". routine services will be hit, but emergency care will continue. our health editor, hugh pym, has the latest. it's a month till christmas, but before then, not one but two strikes by nurses at a busy time for the health service. nurses martha and tom say it hasn't been an easy decision. i think it's a difficult one because you have to be organised to strike, so there's a lot of preparation that goes into it, so i think it's a good thing. yeah, keen to do it. if we were given a decent pay rise, it would immediately go away. there just wouldn't be a strike. yeah _ i don't think it's anything necessarily anyone wants to do. but the prime minister today visiting a gp practice said in respect of england, money was a problem... ..with the royal college of nursing calling for 5% above inflation. w

dan roan, many thanks for that _ should think again.re england men's head coach shaun wane says he's seen a big step up in intensity from his squad this week as they prepare for their quarterfinal tie with papua new guinea at the weekend. adam wild has spent the day in their training camp in wigan. we've reached the stage of this rugby lead world cup where things are getting really serious. they went through the group stages, and things couldn't have gone much better for the england and things couldn't have gone much betterfor the england men's side. it's going to be a real step up in class, of step up in quality for this england. coach shaun wane is very aware of the importance of this one. . , very aware of the importance of this one. ., f one. the way they're the lifting the wei . hts, one. the way they're the lifting the weiahts, a one. the way they're the lifting the weights, a little _ one. the way they're the lifting the weights, a little bit _ one. the way they're the lifting the weights, a little bit heavier- one. the way they'

bullingham told our sports editor dan roan that they hadn't told southgate not to pick toney.not chosen on football rounds. ., ., ., , grounds. to have a problem with auamblin grounds. to have a problem with gambling cosmic is _ grounds. to have a problem with gambling cosmic is the _ grounds. to have a problem with gambling cosmic is the second i gambling cosmic is the second high—profile player to be charged as of this process, but do we have an issue with this? i of this process, but do we have an issue with this?— issue with this? i think the rules are there and _ issue with this? i think the rules are there and very _ issue with this? i think the rules are there and very clearly - issue with this? i think the rules are there and very clearly that i issue with this? i think the rules are there and very clearly that a | are there and very clearly that a small number of cases and will look to enforce the rules where they are broken, if they have been broken. wales moved their first full training session back today, to cope with the heat in qatar. they delayed the session at

our sports editor dan roan is in doha: it is embarrassing for fifa and the defeats the potential of—. al action defeats the potential of possibly of legal action from _ defeats the potential of possibly of legal action from budweiser- defeats the potential of possibly of i legal action from budweiser because you're right, they were a key sponsor that signed a four—year deal of around £63 million. and released a rather terse statement but they did not refer to any potential breach of contract or legal action. it is said that it was beyond their control in the decision had been taken. just before that, there was a tweet that was then hastily deleted which referred to it being awkward. somewhat light—hearted attempt to react to what it happened. back here, manchester united are exploring their legal options as they look to end cristiano ronaldo's time at old trafford. it follows his interview with talktv where he said he felt betrayed by the club, criticised the owners and said he didn't respect manager erik ten hag. ronaldo hasjust over seven months remaining on his £500,000—a—week con

our sports editor dan roan is in al khor where the first match took place. dan.queness of a first world cup in the middle east, evident with her fans from around the globe at the bedouin tent inspired stadium, one of seven built especially for this moment, whatever the cost. the opening ceremony was an impressive and colourful celebration with an international flavour. hollywood actor morgan freeman, narrating the first section and with the message of unity. first section and with the message of uni . first section and with the message ofuni . , , first section and with the message ofuni . , ., of unity. football spans the world. it unites nations _ of unity. football spans the world. it unites nations in _ of unity. football spans the world. it unites nations in their— of unity. football spans the world. it unites nations in their love - of unity. football spans the world. it unites nations in their love of. it unites nations in their love of the beautiful game. what brings together nations also brings together nations also brings together communities. qatar's d

growing anger among campaigners and players about the environmental effects, as our sports editor dan roan the desert kingdom of qatar, organisers of the upcoming world cup have long hailed the green credentials of the event. this recyclable stadium, just one of a number of initiatives promoted by high—profile tournament ambassadors. the qatar world cup has set a real example in sustainability and what can be achieved. but today, fifa's official forecast of the event's likely carbon footprint was disputed by one renowned climate scientist. they're estimating 3.6 million tonnes, we think it's way over but the bbc can reveal that that claim is now the subject of a series of formal complaints by environmental campaigners meanwhile, a host of footballers, including norway international morten thorsby, have signed an open letter to fifa asking health issues have found over 100 failings by the nhs trust involved. christie harnett, nadia sharif and emily moore were in the care of the tees, esk and wear valleys trust and died within eight months of each other. today's reports highlight a lack of a

and we should also remember, as the bbc�*s dan roan sport editor puts it, that blatter�*s time in chargecontinue to deny doing anything wrong, the players are preparing to travel to the tournament and questions remain about why it is being held in qatar. another decision that has been playing out through the week is elon musk�*s purchase of twitter and all of the changes that he is planning. to be honest, sometimes, it's been hard to keep up but we've done our best. elon musk put a car in space. cheering he brought rockets back down to earth. he gets remarkable things done. and when, in 2017, elon musk tweeted "i love twitter", someone replied, "you should buy it then." two weeks ago, he did and well... elon musk�*s second week of twitter ownership is proving to bejust as helter—skelter as the first. two weeks back, elon musk posted this video of him arriving at twitter hq. let that sink in, he told us. two days later, he announced comedy is now legal on twitter. which may be some people's way of describing what's happened since. mr musk�*s first move was on twitter�*s blue ticks. these

from qatar, here's our sports editor dan roan.dy moved to winter, now another unprecedented shift of the goalposts. despite alcohol sales being tightly controlled in this muslim country, fans had been told beer would be available within stadia, butjust two days before the start of the tournament, fifa bowed to pressure from the hosts and announced an embarrassing u—turn, with sales now confined to fan zones. budweiser, a multi—million pound sponsor of the world cup, tried to make light of the situation in a since—deleted tweet, but some fans already here were unimpressed. i don't think it necessarily bodes well, given they've had 12 years to think about these kinds of things and they are changing it so last—minute. i don't really care about the beer, but it's, like, what else could change? just 2a hours ago at a legacy event in doha, the man responsible for delivering the world cup told me all was on track. we're ready, the team's ready, the operational team is ready, everything else is going on. we've always talked about football

from qatar here's our sports editor dan roan. to winter. today at the 11th hour, another unprecedented shift of the goalposts. having told fans that beers would be available at stadia in a country where alcohol sales are tightly controlled, local pressure led to a late u—turn. in a statement, fifa said... budweiser, which paid £63 million to sponsor the world cup, tried to make light of the situation in a now deleted tweet, but they could take legal action. and this evening, fans already here were unimpressed. i don't think it necessarily bodes well given they've had 12 years to think about these kinds of things and they are changing it so last—minute. i think people will be more upset at the u—turn than not being able to actually drink. 2a hours ago at a legacy event in doha, the man responsible for delivering the world cup told me that all was on track. we're ready, the team's ready, the operational team is ready, everything else is going on. we've always talked about football beyond the stadiums. the players are here, everybod

from qatar, here's our sports editor dan roan., at the 11th hour, another unprecedented shift of the goalposts. budweiser, which paid £63 million to sponsor the world cup, tried to make light of the situation and this evening, fans already here were unimpressed. 2a hours ago at a legacy event in doha, the man responsible we're ready, the team's ready, the operational team is ready, everything else is going on. we've always talked about football beyond the stadiums. the players are here, everybody�*s here, the excitement for the world cup is coming along. we've always talked about the world cup being a platform to bring people together, a platform to push forward progress for change and so on. this is what it is all about. but the u—turn today is just the latest controversy to hit an event that was meant to be the perfect advert for this immensely rich gulf state. suspicion marring the build—up ever since it was voted for 12 years ago by fifa, despite extreme summer heat and no footballing history. the hosts denying allegations of

our sports editor dan roan joins us now from doha. two days have been rather overshadowed by politics. that's right, fiona. fifa have always tried to keep politics and activism out of the sport and keep the money very much in but as iran proved today during that national anthem, there was a limit to what they can do, especially here at this world cup. fifa's rhetoric has been toughening over recent weeks, and today they played the trump card, the threat of sporting sanctions. no doubt it will have been welcome here by the hosts, but i think certainly among human rights groups, in especially, has ,, tilthinkzalzso 556} ith|nkalsosome be e with the way somewhat disappointed with theway'r the somewhat disappointed with therway" the fa somewhat disappointed with therwayl" the fa and �*associations that the fa and other associations capitulated would very har kane and the m pitch... by harry kane on the on the pitch... by harry kane on the �*captains. on the pitch, was other captains. on the pitch, it was a great start for gareth southgate'

our sports editor dan roan reports.e desert kingdom of qatar, organisers of the upcoming world cup have long hailed the green credentials of the event. this recyclable stadium is one of a number of initiatives promoted by high—profile tournament ambassadors. the qatar world cup has set a real example in sustainability and what can be achieved. but example in sustainability and what can be achieved.— can be achieved. but today, fifa's official forecasts _ can be achieved. but today, fifa's official forecasts of _ can be achieved. but today, fifa's official forecasts of the _ can be achieved. but today, fifa's official forecasts of the event's i official forecasts of the event's likely carbon footprint was disputed by one renowned climate scientist. they are estimating 3.6 billion tonnes, we think it is way over the 10 million tonne mark. —— 3.6 million tonnes. so three times that at least. the idea they have somehow made it green buy cheap, nasty so—called offsets thatjust don't undo the damage from the emissions at all,

our sports editor, dan roan, reports from doha.espite everything, qatar is determined to put on a show — a celebration to mark the opening of the fan park in doha tonight on the eve of the world cup. but fifa has come under fire for bringing the event here amid human rights concerns, and today the game's most powerful figure turned on his critics in an extraordinary speech. today i feel gay. today i feel disabled. today i feel a migrant worker. because i know what it means to be discriminated. but that was just the start. infantino then appeared to liken his own experience as a redheaded child of immigrants in switzerland to the plight of gay people in the middle east. as a foreigner in a foreign country, as a child at school, i was bullied because i had red hair. qatar has been under mounting scrutiny, especially in europe over its treatment of migrant workers and the lgbt community, and infantino then turned on the critics. i think for what we europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world, we should be apolog

our sports editor dan roan has been in al khor where the opening match took place between the hosts andr years of scrutiny over their treatment of migrant workers and their discriminatory laws, this moment couldn't come soon enough for qatar. they had big ambitions for their team, as well as for the whole tournament, but on the pitch tonight it didn't go to plan for them. to many it still seems surreal, but the first winter world cup was here. after a build up mired in controversy, these the images the hosts had wanted their tournament to project. the uniqueness of a first world cup in the middle east evident, with fans from around the globe here at the bedouin tent inspired stadium, one of seven built especially for this moment, whatever the cost. the opening ceremony was an impressive and colourful celebration, with an international flavour. hollywood actor morgan freeman narrating the first section, and with a message of unity. football spans the world. uniting nations in their love of the beautiful game. what brings together nations also brings together communities. qatar's desperat

dan roan, bbc news, doha. it is indeed.the most controversial sporting event ever held. let�*s bring you the views of the guardian journalist, and author of the fall of the house of fifa, what did you make of 0f fifa, what did you make of infanta�*s speech today questioning it was just awfully cringe. the minute he — it was just awfully cringe. the minute he said _ it was just awfully cringe. the minute he said he _ it was just awfully cringe. tue: minute he said he feels it was just awfully cringe. tte: minute he said he feels like all those different disadvantaged people and are likely migrant worker, i looked at what his current salary is as the president of fifa and it has 2 million swiss francs and itjust shows an awful lack of self—awareness. it is a real... there was a need for the president of fifa to give some kind of state sm in like speech today on the eve of the world cup, but —— statesman—like speech, but infantino has shown he is not a statesman. he has shown he is not a statesman. he has had a lot of time to

after his statement, our sports editor dan roan challenged mr infantino on some of his comments.ou've accused some in the west, the critics, is being hypocritical. isn't it hypocritical to on the one hand say fifa stands for equality and non—discrimination, while at the same time, supporting an event in a country which has discriminatory laws? if you were to exclude all the countries who have discriminatory laws, human rights problems, who are playing football maybe. because i don't know we don't discriminate but i don't know, i hope not. so i think it is real to bring football together and unite the world. i think we have to do that. and i think we have to welcome everybody in qatar. gay people are welcome in qatar. and we need to engage. not provoke, engage, discuss. how many gay people were prosecuted in europe? sorry. it was a process. we went through a process. you seem to forget. i'm joined by our sports correspondentjohn watson who is in doha. john, i suppose the idea is that they want to take attention away from the criticism and get it focused on the football? this press