<p>FIFA has called on the teams participating in the controversial Qatar World Cup to "focus on football" and stop "handing out moral lessons" in a letter revealed by Sky News on Thursday.</p>.<p>Qatar has faced criticism for its human rights record on the treatment of foreign workers on major infrastructure projects for the World Cup, on women's rights and LGBTQ rights.</p>.<p>Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state and captains from a number of leading European countries, including England, France and Germany, will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message "One Love" in an anti-discrimination campaign.</p>.<p>Last week, the Australian national team condemned the "suffering" of migrant workers.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/qatar-rejects-compensation-fund-for-world-cup-migrant-workers-1158797.html" target="_blank">Qatar rejects compensation fund for World Cup migrant workers</a></strong></p>.<p>"Please let's now focus on the football!" FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura said in a letter sent to all 32 World Cup teams, confirmed to AFP by world football's governing body.</p>.<p>"We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.</p>.<p>"But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists."</p>.<p>Qatar organisers have defended the country's rights record.</p>.<p>After the Australian players' criticism, a World Cup spokesperson said imposing "robust" labour laws had also been a "challenge" for Australia.</p>.<p>Earlier this week, the Arab League states slammed criticism of Qatar as a "defamation campaign" ahead of the tournament.</p>.<p>"One of the great strengths of the world is indeed its very diversity, and if inclusion means anything, it means having respect for that diversity," continued the FIFA letter.</p>.<p>"No one people or culture or nation is 'better' than any other."</p>.<p>Qatar Labour Minister Ali bin Samikh Al Marri told AFP on Wednesday that calls for a new compensation fund for migrant workers was a "publicity stunt".</p>.<p>He also accused some of the country's critics of "racism".</p>.<p>"They don't want to allow a small country, an Arab country, an Islamic country, to organise the World Cup," Marri said.</p>
<p>FIFA has called on the teams participating in the controversial Qatar World Cup to "focus on football" and stop "handing out moral lessons" in a letter revealed by Sky News on Thursday.</p>.<p>Qatar has faced criticism for its human rights record on the treatment of foreign workers on major infrastructure projects for the World Cup, on women's rights and LGBTQ rights.</p>.<p>Homosexuality is illegal in the Gulf state and captains from a number of leading European countries, including England, France and Germany, will wear armbands in rainbow colours with the message "One Love" in an anti-discrimination campaign.</p>.<p>Last week, the Australian national team condemned the "suffering" of migrant workers.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/qatar-rejects-compensation-fund-for-world-cup-migrant-workers-1158797.html" target="_blank">Qatar rejects compensation fund for World Cup migrant workers</a></strong></p>.<p>"Please let's now focus on the football!" FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura said in a letter sent to all 32 World Cup teams, confirmed to AFP by world football's governing body.</p>.<p>"We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.</p>.<p>"But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists."</p>.<p>Qatar organisers have defended the country's rights record.</p>.<p>After the Australian players' criticism, a World Cup spokesperson said imposing "robust" labour laws had also been a "challenge" for Australia.</p>.<p>Earlier this week, the Arab League states slammed criticism of Qatar as a "defamation campaign" ahead of the tournament.</p>.<p>"One of the great strengths of the world is indeed its very diversity, and if inclusion means anything, it means having respect for that diversity," continued the FIFA letter.</p>.<p>"No one people or culture or nation is 'better' than any other."</p>.<p>Qatar Labour Minister Ali bin Samikh Al Marri told AFP on Wednesday that calls for a new compensation fund for migrant workers was a "publicity stunt".</p>.<p>He also accused some of the country's critics of "racism".</p>.<p>"They don't want to allow a small country, an Arab country, an Islamic country, to organise the World Cup," Marri said.</p>