Robbie Williams has defended his determination to carry out in the course of the World Cup in Qatar.

The 48-year-old singer accepted a request to carry out in Qatar – which has been the topic of worldwide condemnation over its human rights file together with criminalisation of homosexuality – however insisted that it might be “hypocritical” not to take action.

In an interview with Italian newspaper Il Venerdì di Repubblica, Robbie stated: “Of course, I don’t condone any abuses of human rights anywhere.

“That being stated, if we’re not condoning human rights abuses anyplace, then it might be the shortest tour the world has ever recognized. I would not even have the ability to carry out in my very own kitchen.

“Anybody leaving messages saying “no to Qatar” are doing so on Chinese technology. It would be hypocritical of me to not go [to Qatar] because of the places that I do go to.

“I feel that the hypocrisy there’s that if we take that case on this place, we have to apply that unilaterally to the world… Then if we apply that unilaterally to the world, no one can go anyplace.”

Robbie’s decision to perform comes after it was revealed that Dua Lipa, Sir Rod Stewart and Shakira all turned down requests to play in the country.

Rod, 77, rejected a seven-figure sum to entertain crowds in the Middle East country in 2021 because it “wasn’t proper” to go.

He told The Sunday Times: “I used to be really provided some huge cash, over $1 million, to play there 15 months in the past. I turned it down. It’s not proper to go. And the Iranians must be out too for supplying arms. Tell you what, supporters have gotten to be careful, haven’t they?”

And Dua Lipa has vowed never to visit the country until “all human rights” are granted.

She said: “There is presently lots of hypothesis that I can be performing on the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar. I can’t be performing and nor have I ever been concerned in any negotiation to carry out. can be cheering England on from afar and I sit up for visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all of the human rights pledges it made when it received the proper to host the World Cup.”