Qatar will host the FIFA Men’s World Cup in November 2022. When watching football, keep human rights in mind.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s announcement that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup was welcomed with criticism. The sport of football has changed dramatically since December 2010, when Zurich hosted the FIFA World Cup. Accusations of fraud and forgery against Blatter and his “football consultant,” Michel Platini, were withdrawn.
Following the removal, indictment, and conviction of numerous FIFA executives, the tournament was moved from June to July until the end of the year.
There have been proposals to cancel Qatar, however when the Tokyo 2020/21 Olympics were threatened, IOC member Richard Pound announced that the event will go place from November 21 to December 18 “barring Armageddon.”
Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup for the second time in 2022, following Russia in 2018. FIFA’s decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in Russia seems to be a difficult one. As a result of Bolsonaro’s authoritarian turn in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup, future World Cup hosts will inherit a shattered event. A Trump reelection in 2024 would be damaging to the country’s reputation.
The expression “sportswashing” has been used since Qatar was chosen to host the World Cup over Australia, Japan, and South Korea. How can countries with a terrible human rights record benefit from the soft power cachet of top sports? Despite the country’s claim to be a “enlightened” Middle Eastern nation, there are human rights problems.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar is the heir apparent. The Sheikh’s Shura Council (Consultative Assembly) is mostly ceremonial, with few elected members. Women’s rights in Qatar are limited by family law and male guardianship.
Migrant laborers and LGBTQ+ people will be two subjects addressed at the World Cup. Concerns about the city’s sporting and civic facilities may deter visitors and residents from publicly displaying their sexual orientation and gender diversity.
Migrant Workers’ Rights
Because of its reliance on oil and gas sales, Qatar has become one of the world’s richest countries. Its nationality limitations limit its population to barely more than 300,000 people. Under Qatar’s kafala sponsorship system, 2.3 million non-citizens are linked to an employer or sponsor (kafeel).
Migrant workers are not permitted to enter the country, leave the country, or change professions without the legal permission of their employers.
Qatar was made acutely aware of the situation of migrant laborers, particularly those employed in the construction of sports stadiums. According to the Guardian, an estimated 6,500 migrant laborers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka perished in Qatar since the country won the right to host the World Cup a decade before.
Qatar claims to have improved the rights and working conditions of migrant workers, including the abolition of kafala. The legality of worker protections against high heat has been called into doubt.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2022 Live Stream