Qatari officials on Thursday slammed Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal for his comments on Qatar’s position as hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to beIN Sports on Thursday, Qatar World Cup official Hassan Al Thawadi criticised the Dutch coach for his ignorance, and called his comments about Qatar’s suitability to host the World Cup “ridiculous.”

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“First of all, let me say: for someone with years of experience, who understands how powerful football can be, it is ridiculous to make such a statement,” Al Thawadi told the media outlet.

“He probably hasn’t made much effort to understand what football means for Qatar and the Arab world. He should take some time to see what the recent Arab Cup has meant for the people here. Then you see the passion in the Arab world, then you see what football means to us. It’s not a ridiculous notion that an Arab nation hosts the World Cup,” added Al Thawadi, who is the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for the 2022 World Cup.

Al Thawadi’s comments come days after van Gaal made the headlines for criticising FIFA’s decision to let the Middle-Eastern nation host the World Cup this year.

“I have already mentioned it in previous press conferences. I think it’s ridiculous that the World Cup is there,” van Gaal told reporters on Monday.

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“We are playing in a country that FIFA says they want to develop football there. That’s bulls**t, but it doesn’t matter. It’s about money, about commercial interests. That matters in FIFA,” the 70-year-old had said.

Van Gaal, however, is not the only one to have voiced concerns over FIFA’s decision to let Qatar host the 2022 World Cup: while human rights groups have criticised FIFA for its decision in light of alleged human rights violations in Qatar, several FIFA officials have also spoken out against the organisation’s decision to let the Middle-Eastern country host this year’s World Cup.