How much money is David Beckham really getting paid by Qatar at the World Cup 2022 - after Joe Lycett LGBTQ criticism

David Beckham has come under fire recently after signing a reported  £10 million contract to an ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar.

The event in Qatar has been plagued with issues from thousands of people dying while building the World Cup stadium, to the fact that Homosexuality is illegal there. Many people were disappointed in the former Man United midfielder’s decision as he has previously been viewed as LGBT+ ally.

Recently, Beckham spoke at a youth festival in Qatar and seemed to defend his decision saying that Qatar and its ambassadors were changing lives for the better :"Every one of the great players I was lucky enough to play with started exactly the same way," he said.

"In a back garden, park, or a street outside their home with just a ball and an imagination that they dared to let run wild.

"Almost two decades ago, a small group of football lovers from Qatar had an equally fantastic dream: that they could bring the greatest football show on earth to their home country and to the Middle East for the very first time. And now we are here.

"Because when dreams are harnessed and mixed with dedication and hard work, they are no longer dreams, they become reality. I want to say to all of you, ‘today is your day to dream’. Because there are no limits to what you and your teammates can achieve in our beautiful game."

How much is David Beckham getting from Qatar?

As well as Beckham’s £10 million payday for his ambassador role, he has also been chosen as the face of a new multi-million pound Qatar 2022 tourism drive, with a trip lined up to the five-star resort ‘Banana Island’. The deal is reportedly worth £150 million over 10 years.

Who has spoken out against Beckham?

Beckham has been under increasing scrutiny by many around the world, with Di Cunningham, co-founder of the Three Lions Pride group, saying he should no longer be considered a great ally because of his paid ambassador role.

The most notable criticism has come from comedian Joe Lycett who posted a video to Instagram on November 13 in which he said: “This is a message to David Beckham. I consider you, along with Kim Woodburn and Monty Don, to be a gay icon.

“You’re the first premiership footballer to do shoots with gay magazines like Attitude, to speak openly about your gay fans, and you married a Spice Girl, which is the gayest thing a human being can do.

“But now it’s 2022. And you signed a reported £10m deal with Qatar to be their ambassador during the FIFA World Cup. Qatar was voted as one of the worst places in the world to be gay. Homosexuality is illegal, punishable by imprisonment and, if you’re Muslim, possibly even death.”

Lycett continued: “If you end your relationship with Qatar, I’ll donate this £10,000 of my own money, as a grand for every million you’re reportedly getting, to charities that support queer people in football.

“However, if you do not, by midday next Sunday [20 November] I will throw this money into a shredder just before the opening ceremony of the World Cup and stream it live on a website I’ve registered called benderslikebeckham.com.”

Joe Lycett made good on his threat on November 20, and shredded £10,000 after David Beckham did not meet his demands to pull out of his role as Qatar ambassador for the 2022 World Cup. He has since confirmed that the money he shredded was fake and he would never be so ‘irresponsible’,

The comedian stepped into the shot dressed in a stunning rainbow-coloured coat and red ear defenders, completing the task without saying a word. The money sprayed out the giant red shredder like confetti before Lycett walked out of the show in silence. Beckham has yet to respond to Lycett and stayed silent on his role in the World Cup and association with Qatar and their values.