A lawyer from Oman wants to buy football superstar Lionel Messi’s bisht, the traditional Arab cloak he was presented with at the award ceremony after Argentina’s victorious World Cup final.
“From the Sultanate of Oman I congratulate you for winning the World Cup Qatar 2022,” Ahmed al-Barwani, a lawyer and member of parliament from Oman, wrote on Twitter.
The bisht was “a symbol of chivalry and wisdom”, he said. “I’m offering you $US1 million ($A1.5 million) to give me that bisht.”
Qatar’s head of state, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, had given Messi the transparent bisht to wear for the award ceremony.
There was criticism, especially in the West, that the cheering pictures of the Argentinians after their victory against France thus no longer belonged only to the new world champions – but also to the host country.
In the Arab world, users on social networks reacted with astonishment to the criticism.
“I was at the stadium watching that moment live when the emir of Qatar gave Messi the bisht,” al-Barwani told The National newspaper:
“This moment told the world that we are here, and this is our culture, please know it well.”
“(The bisht) is a symbol of many things including wisdom, bravery, integrity, generosity and authenticity and, most important, it tells who we are,” al-Barwani said.
If he is successful with his $US1 million ($A1.5 million) bid, the lawyer does not want to wear the bisht himself, but it will be on display.
Lionel Messi of Argentina wearing a traditional black robe called a bisht. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“It will be displayed to commemorate that moment of pride, and to help us relive it, and to also remind us that we can (do anything),” he told The National.
World governing body FIFA’s decision to award the World Cup to Qatar was extremely controversial.
The Gulf state is regularly criticised for human rights violations, among other things. The country is accused of trying to clean up its image with sporting events like the World Cup.
A bisht is a long cloak worn by men over their robes, primarily in the Gulf, for special occasions.
Tony
Roar Guru
Should work out at around $7k per family
chris
Guest
Excellent idea Rellum. Some good might come out of it
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
If you are going to go back in history to try to prove your point then can you name a country that is capable of hosting a world cup that has not had massacres in the past?
Loosey
Roar Rookie
I thought it rather amusing watching Infantino and Al-Thani trying desperately to be the last person to hand the WC trophy over to Messi. It was seconds away from crashing to the floor. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I can see now if you wear it over a white robe it doesn't look like a see through piece of lingerie like it did on Messi. I think the offer is actually under I would pay more for it because it can easily be worth 5 million in the future.
Al
Guest
Lucky they gave Messi the version without the bombs.
Al
Guest
Nice try Ahmed but you're sport washing didn't work.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
Well Australia is worse than Qatar but you won't see the same criticism as Qatar, at the Womans World Cup of soccer despite us massacring the First Nations people because we are a western country and know everything, The pathetic poorly educated western media possibly know the history but runs with whatever sells.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Sell it and donate the money to families who lost someone in the building of the stadiums for the tournament
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Sounds like bsht to me.