FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a press conference Reuters/Matthew Childs
Doha: FIFA president Gianni Infantino hit back at criticism of Qatar's human rights record on Saturday, blasting the "hypocrisy" of Western critics on the eve of the World Cup kick-off.
Infantino was speaking at an opening press conference of the tournament in Doha.
"This moral lesson-giving -- one-sided -- is just hypocrisy," said the Swiss.
"I don't want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust."
He added: "For what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should apologise for the next 3,000 years before starting giving moral lessons to people."
"I have difficulties understanding the criticism. We have to invest in helping these people, in education and to give them a better future and more hope. We should all educate ourselves, many things are not perfect but reform and change takes time.
"This one-sided moral lesson is just hypocrisy," he said.
"It is not easy to take the criticism of a decision that was made 12 years ago. Doha is ready, Qatar is ready and of course it will be the best World Cup ever."
Infantino drew on his own experience as the child of migrant workers growing up in Switzerland, saying he had been bullied for being Italian and for having red hair and freckles.
"I know what it feels to be discriminated (against), I know what it's like to be bullied," he said.
"What do you do? You start engaging, this is what we should be doing... The only way of getting results is by engaging.
"I believe the changes that have happened in Qatar would maybe not have happened, or not at least at that speed, (without the World Cup). Obviously, we need to keep pressure, obviously we need to try and make things better."
The build-up to the tournament in the Gulf state has been dominated by concerns over Qatar's treatment of migrant workers and women.
Infantino expressed his support for all communities and welcomed all to enjoy the games.
Qatar officials say their country has been the target of "racism" and "double standards". They point to the reforms on working conditions and safety that have been hailed as groundbreaking in the Gulf region.
The World Cup kicks off on Sunday when host nation Qatar take on Ecuador in the opening match.
