FIFA’s top officials have urged the 32 teams preparing for this year’s football World Cup in Qatar to “not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.”
A letter urging teams to “let football take centre stage,” and “focus on the football,” was sent by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura ahead of intense media focus on coaches and players when World Cup squads are announced next week.
Qatar being picked in 2010 as World Cup host sparked scrutiny on its treatment of low-paid migrant workers needed to build projects costing tens of billions of dollars and its laws criminalising same-sex relationships.
“FIFA is trying to pressure national teams to drop their concerns about human rights abuses in Qatar. It is colluding with the sexist, homophobic and racist regime in Doha, which is using the World Cup to sportswash its international reputation.
“Footballers with a conscience have a right to freedom of expression, just like everyone else.
“Calling out Qatar’s abuses is not political, as FIFA claims. It’s defending universal human rights.
“FIFA says everyone will be welcome at the World Cup. But that’s not true. Seven competing nations, including Qatar, criminalise same-sex relations. In these countries, a gay footballer would be more likely to be jailed than selected for their national team, no matter how brilliant a player he is. That’s discrimination and it’s against FIFA’s rules.
“FIFA is doing nothing to stop this homophobic discrimination. It is looking the other way and allowing countries to discriminate in their team selection policies.”
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