New Delhi: Norway’s soccer federation has announced its decision to abstain from supporting Saudi Arabia’s expected confirmation as the host of the 2034 World Cup, stating FIFA has done too little to safeguard human rights during the tournament.
In a statement on Tuesday, federation president Lise Klaveness expressed concerns over FIFA’s failure to fully implement its own human rights and due diligence guidelines into the selection process. This oversight she warned heightens the likelihood of human rights violations.
On Wednesday, FIFA’s 211 member associations will participate in an online meeting to formally approve Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 World Cup. The meeting will also finalize the awarding of the 2030 tournament to a joint bid by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with matches to be held across three continents.
Though Wednesday’s vote is not all who will host the 2030 and 2034 World Cups that has already been decided, Klaveness said. Additionally, she mentioned that FIFA’s approval without an itemized votre does not align with the principles of a sound and predictable governance system.
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Last year FIFA structured the bidding process to feature only one candidate for each tournament, limiting external scrutiny. This approach aligned with the organization and its president, Gianni Infantino ideas of strengthening financial and political connections with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is set to set up stadiums, hotels, and transport for the World Cup, relying heavily on migrant labor raising concerns that FIFA is inviting a repeat of intense challenges which will be faced by workers in Qatar during preparations to host the 2022 edition. Norway and Klaveness are putting pressure on Qatar and FIFA before the tournament to evaluate the same and take necessary actions. Norway had also protested against 2022 World Cup host Qatar’s human rights record before their qualifier against Turkey.
Norway continue their protest against 2022 World Cup host Qatar’s human rights record before their qualifier against Turkey
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FIFA report
FIFA’s in-house evaluation of the Saudi bid has rated the tournament as an elevated risk though with significant opportunities for positive human rights impact which was claimed by activists as whitewash.
A FIFA-mandated report related to Saudi human rights was commissioned from a legal firm closely tied to the UK and it committed World Cup organizers will only have to work with state-approved domestic agencies along with the UN-backed ILO (International Labor Organization).
The ILO in Geneva has earlier worked with Qatar to reform the Kafala System of labor rules and is currently investigating a formal complaint against Saudi for alleging abuses filed by the global trade union Building and Wood Workers’ International.
Switzerland’s soccer football has said that it will support FIFA’s 2030-34 decisions on Tuesday but has also noted some vagueness over some of Saudi’s strategy to protect rights and freedoms. However, FIFA has ignored advice to compensate workers in Qatar and their families which was given by a panel of rights experts appointed last year under European soccer officials including Norway pressure.
FIFA delayed releasing the panel’s report for nearly a year and finally published it on November 30 just two days after unveiling a $50 million legacy fund for the 2022 World Cup. However, the fund does not provide direct compensation to workers instead the money is allocated to charity initiatives associated with UN agencies.
Norway football federation president Klaveness also said that the lack of predictability and open processes challenges trust in FIFA as the global custodian of football.
FIFA’s 211 member federations will be holding an online meeting on Wednesday to declare Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup hosts. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
