Concerns about the plight of low-paid migrant laborers who built the infrastructure in the tiny Gulf nation and discriminatory laws that criminalize same-sex relationships have clouded the buildup to the World Cup.
The leadership of FIFA has written a letter to World Cup teams urging them to focus on the tournament in Qatar and avoid moralizing and dragging football into “every ideological or political fight that exists.”
Concerns about the plight of low-paid migrant laborers who built the infrastructure in the tiny Gulf nation and discriminatory laws that criminalize same-sex relationships have marred the buildup to the World Cup.
Please, let’s now concentrate on football! Infantino and Samoura sent letters to the 32 countries competing in the World Cup, including England and Wales.
We are aware that football does not exist in a vacuum and that there are several political concerns and obstacles throughout the world.
Please refrain from dragging football into every ideological or political conflict that occurs.
The letter follows but does not directly address, Ukraine’s requests to FIFA that Iran is barred from the event for supplying weaponry to support Russia’s operations on Ukraine.
In less than three weeks, Iran will face England, Wales, and the United States in the group stage.
The politically heated aspect of this inaugural World Cup in the Middle East was heightened when Russia, the 2018 hosts, was banned by FIFA for waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.
The letter makes no mention of the request by England, Wales, and six other European nations for their captains to wear multicolored “One Love” armbands at the World Cup as a protest against Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
Both British teams have already stated that they would reject any FIFA suspension, and the letter warns against activism.
Infantino authored: “At FIFA, we strive to respect all perspectives and beliefs without lecturing the rest of the world on morality.
“Difference is one of the greatest strengths of the world, and if inclusion means anything, it means respecting this diversity. No group, culture, or nation is superior to all others.
“This value is the bedrock upon which mutual respect and nondiscrimination are built. This is also one of the fundamental principles of football. Please keep this in mind and allow football to take center stage.”
Infantino and Samoura declared that everyone is welcome in Qatar, regardless of origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.
The CEO of the Qatar World Cup, Nasser Al Khater, told that gay supporters would be welcome, even though anti-LGBTQ laws must stay in place due to the country’s culture.
The FIFA letter was given to the nations competing in the men’s football championship as they finalize their rosters and preparations for the 20 November competition kickoff.
The FIFA chiefs stated, “Let’s use this chance and unify the world through the global language of football.”
Infantino and his leadership team were not in place at FIFA in 2010 when a corrupt executive committee voted to award the World Cup to Qatar.
The tournament’s legacy includes stricter laws on working conditions, the introduction of a minimum wage, and efforts to abolish the Kafala system, which binds workers to their employers.
However, the English and Welsh Football Associations have raised concerns about labor violations by demanding compensation for the families of those who died while constructing the larger infrastructure the tiny Gulf nation required to accommodate a month’s worth of matches.
In 2019, Liverpool was the last English team to compete in Qatar at the FIFA Club World Cup. Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, told that it is “unfair” to expect players to make political statements at the World Cup.
The German uttered: “There, they participate in football. It is not up to the players of this generation to say, “We don’t go or we don’t do that.”
“Others made the decision [to have the tournament in Qatar], so if you want to criticize somebody, criticize those who made the decision.”
