Lives at risk from 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia: rights group

FIFA's decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia puts many lives at risk and is “a moment of great danger”, Amnesty International and 20 other organizations warned on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia, the only candidate, was rubber-stamped as the 2034 host at the virtual FIFA Congress, bringing the World Cup back to the Gulf region in 2022, exactly 12 years after Qatar hosted it. The tournament was awarded to Saudi Arabia. “The well-known and grave risks to residents, migrant workers and visiting fans are a moment of great danger,” Amnesty and organizations including Human Rights Watch, the Gulf Center for Human Rights and the Football Supporters Europe group said in a statement.

The groups said, “As global and regional human rights organizations, trade unions, fan groups and organizations representing migrant workers, many of us have long raised concerns about the serious risks posed by Saudi Arabia's hosting of mega-sporting events.” Has shed light.”

“By awarding hosting of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without meaningful protections, FIFA has today decided to ignore our warnings and abandon its human rights policies.”

'Weak human rights'

FIFA's own assessment report released last month deemed the Saudi effort a “medium risk” to human rights, and said reforms could take “significant effort and time” to implement.

Rights groups have long highlighted allegations of mass executions and torture in Saudi Arabia, as well as restrictions on women under the conservative country's male guardianship system.

Free expression has been severely restricted, with some people sentenced to long prison terms for critical posts on social media.

“FIFA can never claim that it was not aware of the seriousness of the risks of hosting its major event in a country with such weak human rights protections,” the statement said.

“Nor can national football associations vote to approve it.

“It is clear that without immediate action and comprehensive reforms, the 2034 World Cup will be tainted by widespread oppression, discrimination and exploitation.”

Saudi Arabia, which now hosts a number of high-profile events including the WTA finals of Formula One, heavyweight boxing and tennis, is often accused of “sportswashing” – using sport to divert attention from its rights record. goes.

Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's head of labor rights and sport, said the decision to award the World Cup to Saudi Arabia “without ensuring adequate protection of human rights” would put many lives at risk.

He said, “Based on the clear evidence to date, FIFA knows that without fundamental reforms in Saudi Arabia workers will be exploited and even die, and yet it moved forward regardless.” Have decided to grow.”

“The Organization risks bearing enormous responsibility for many human rights abuses that may occur in the future.

“At every stage of this bidding process, FIFA has demonstrated its commitment to human rights.”

The organizations said they would mobilize over the coming decade to ensure that “the violations and abuses of this World Cup” do not go unnoticed.

Cockburn said, “FIFA must urgently change its stance and ensure that the World Cup takes place in Saudi Arabia with comprehensive reforms, otherwise it risks a decade of exploitation, discrimination and repression associated with its flagship tournament.”