The world record transfer of Brazilian footballer Neymar to Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain is a play by Doha to influence diplomacy through sports, but it cannot escape answering questions about its role in supporting terrorism, French government spokesman Christophe Castaner said on Friday.
"We see very well that Qatar is involved in a communications operation, we see how Qatar wants to be a player, via sporting events, sporting presence, to be seen on the diplomatic stage," Mr Castaner said in an LCI television interview.
However, “it’s essential that Qatar sheds full transparency on subjects like the financing of terrorism”, he said.
Qatar has been boycotted since June by a Saudi-led quartet of fellow Arab countries who accuse it of supporting extremism and terrorism. Doha denies the charges.
Former Barcelona player Neymar, 25, moves to PSG in a deal that is said to reach as much as US$600 million (Dh2.2 billion), including wages and add-ons, over five years. The Paris club is owned by a company linked to Qatar's ruling family.
Asked whether France would make any concessions in exchange for the "gift" of Neymar's arrival, Mr Castaner insisted "there was no negotiated compensation" and insisted France would not let the deal smooth over the Gulf diplomatic crisis and questions about Qatar's relationship with extremists.
"We don't need to be suspicious of one country or another. But we have the right to ask questions. France favours pursuing dialogue because today there are extremely high tensions [between Qatar and its neighbours] and it's not healthy for them to continue.
"There are specific questions that have been asked of Qatar, notably about the financing of terrorism. It's essential that Qatar shows total transparency on these subjects."
The Neymar acquisition is the latest in a series of headline-grabbing deals by Qatar, which has a history of buying trophy assets. The world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas has since June agreed to buy F-15 fighter jets from the US, seven warships from Italy and explored the idea of buying a stake in American Airlines before backing out.
The cost of the Neymar transfer "sends a very strong signal to the sporting world and a very strong signal of defiance towards the UAE and Saudi Arabia", said Andreas Krieg, a political risk analyst at King's College London who called the deal "a soft power stunt".
"They wanted this player and they used the money to buy him at whatever price."
* With reporting from Bloomberg, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse
Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
Fixtures
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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