New Delhi: Australia’s professional footballers’ union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), has criticised FIFA’s decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. The union expressed concerns over the kingdom’s human rights record and questioned FIFA’s ability to ensure that harm is avoided during the event.
Saudi Arabia was officially announced as the sole bidder and host for the 2034 World Cup on Wednesday by FIFA. PFA chief Beau Busch called for accountability from FIFA, stressing the importance of protecting human rights linked to such a significant event.
Busch noted, “The significant human rights risks linked to this tournament are well-documented,” highlighting FIFA’s past governance failures that provide little confidence in its ability to uphold human rights standards.
The World Cup should be a global celebration but there’s little to celebrate with this decision
FIFA has ignored legal advice from human rights organisations about Saudi Arabia hosting the tournament and has instead shown it’s for sale to the highest bidder & put profits before… pic.twitter.com/WlxuDGiPA6
— Adrian Ramsay MP (@AdrianRamsay) December 11, 2024
The decision has faced widespread criticism from human rights organisations, trade unions, and LGBT groups. They raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s treatment of migrant workers, women, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Neither FIFA nor Saudi officials have responded to the criticism so far, as reported by Reuters.
Saudi Arabia’s government has denied accusations of human rights abuses and defended its laws as measures to protect national security. However, the kingdom’s track record remains under scrutiny. Critics also noted the tight deadline FIFA set for rival bids, leaving limited time for competition.
Interestingly, Australia explored a joint bid with Indonesia but ultimately backed out. Football Australia, which had previously criticised Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, took a more diplomatic stance this time. The governing body expressed confidence in Saudi Arabia’s ability to host a “world-class tournament” and in FIFA’s framework to ensure positive change.
This decision follows a trend where Gulf nations, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, use major sporting events to improve global perception, despite ongoing controversies over their human rights policies.
Australia’s footballers’ union has criticised FIFA’s 2034 World Cup decision, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s significant human rights concerns. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
