NU.nl – The debate over whether the Dutch government should send a representative of the nation to Qatar to watch the national team has continued, with the Foreign Trade minister Liesje Schreinemacher explaining that they are waiting to see what Argentina does before deciding who will go.
Whether or not to send official representation to Qatar has been a politically sensitive topic for the Dutch state given the human rights violations which exist in the country. The Lower House has previously expressed its opposition to Dutch government representatives attending, but this decision has been overruled by the cabinet, who wish to maintain good relations with Qatar, especially given the need to purchase liquefied gas from the country.
Sports minister Conny Helder attended the group match between the Netherlands and Qatar. The minister did not wear the One Love armband but instead wore a pin expressing the same sentiment. Yet this ended up attracting controversy after the minister wore a scarf that covered the pin, and had the text “never mind” written on it. Helder claimed that she had not realised that the text was on the scarf, and had only picked it because it was orange – the colour of the national team. When she realised what the text said, she immediately took it off.
Meanwhile, for the Netherlands’ quarter-final tie with Argentina, the government has said that if Argentina sends their President, Alberto Fernandez, then Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will attend as well. Maxima is of Argentine descent.
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