FIFA President Gianni Infantino and France's President Emmanuel macron attend the Qatar 2022 World Cup semifinal football match between France and Morocco at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha, on Dec. 14, 2022. (Credit: Karium Jaafar/AFP)
President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday stood by his decision to visit Qatar to support France's World Cup team, despite allegations linking the Gulf monarchy to corruption in the European Parliament.
Macron was in Qatar on Wednesday night to watch France's semifinal victory over Morocco before flying to Brussels overnight to attend an EU summit in Brussels.
Belgian police investigating allegations that Qatar has been paying bribes to European politicians have arrested an MEP and three associates and charged them with corruption. Qatar denies any wrongdoing.