The world’s biggest sport returns- Introducing the world to Qatar
By: Julia Bermig
On December 2, 2010, FIFA announced the next 2 host nations of the world's most important sports tournament: Russia in 2018, Qatar in 2022. 24 influential men who make up the FIFA executive committee chose the two most controversial host nations yet.
Jump to 20th November 2022, 67,000 fans filled the Al Bayt Stadium for the opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening match. Ecuador defeated Qatar, the host, mired in controversy 2:0. The embarrassing loss is unwantedly historical; the first ever host nation to lose its opening game. Although this was not great for the football team it was great for the country as a whole.
For Qatar, this was an opportunity for “sportswashing’ and soft power- introducing a little known Gulf Nation to a potential 3.3 billion viewers, emphasising innovation, infrastructure, pallatibality and modernity. However, as said before, , its reputation has been heavily tarnished by allegations of inhumane migrant labour conditions, corruption, censorship, women’s and LGBTQ+ inequalities.
When Qatar won the bid, the country had only one stadium large enough to host a World Cup game. 12 years later, they have eight, along with 300 billion USD worth of infrastructure projects. But every time the glossy stadium and sand dune adverts come up, the same question arises: Who built it all?
Allegedly, migrant workers in unjust working conditions, remuneration and a lack of social protection. There have been reports of workers not being able to change jobs or leave Qatar without employer consent, an apparent violation of Article 23 and 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . In 2013, Amnesty International reported that some workers were coerced into signing false statements claiming they had received their wages to get their passports and personal documents back. The Guardian reported up to 10,000 worker deaths due to lack of safety, water/food, and adequate living conditions occurred to build this World Cup. Migrants make up 90 percent of the state’s population. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains that the number of worker deaths remains under 40, stating that they “dispels concerns about the misinformation reported in the British newspaper The Guardian about the conditions of migrant workers in the State of Qatar”.
“Today I feel gay”, stated FIFA president, Gianni Infanto, as he assured LGBTQ visitors would feel safe and comfortable in Qatar, a country which allows stoning to death as legal punishment for the crime of homosexuality. He insisted he understood their concerns of discrimination as he was bullied as a child for being ginger. and normalise discrimination as “just a .
Some European team captains (England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands,Switzerland,Germany, Denmark) planned to wear “one-love” armbands in protest of these anti-LGBTQ+ laws. However,FIFA threatened sporting sanctions against any team wearing the armband and “political team equipment”.
In protest, the German national made a statement by covering their mouths in their team photos ahead of their game against Japan. The team explained their action: “We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect. Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard.It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position.”
While Infanto’s remarks may have sounded rather absurd, there is indeed something to be said about western hypocrisy and an attitude of moral superiority and unequal scrutiny against the Gulf State. The first Middle Eastern World Cup has seen unprecedented scrutiny. Allegations of corruption and bribery are almost synonymous with the FIFA organisation. The 2006 successful Germany bid was proven to be corrupt- 6.7 million euro in 2005 were falsely filed. Russia has a terrible human rights record, Brazil also has allegations of widespread migrant worker exploitation. Yet none of these former hosts endured such scrutiny and criticism.
Works Cited
Byers, Justin. "Qatar Rushes Infrastructure Projects Ahead of World Cup." Front Office Sports, 26 Sept. 2022, frontofficesports.com/qatar-rushes-infrastructure-projects-ahead-of-world-cup/.
"Danish, German Captains to Wear One Love Armbands at World Cup." Reuters, 19 Nov. 2022, www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/danish-german-captains-wear-one-love-armbands-world-cup-2022-11-19/.
"FIFA President Hits out at Qatar World Cup Criticism in Extraordinary Speech Ahead of Tournament." Channel 4 News, 19 Nov. 2022, www.channel4.com/news/fifa-president-hits-out-at-qatar-world-cup-criticism-in-extraordinary-speech-ahead-of-tournament#:~:text=He%20spoke%20for%20nearly%20an,ginger%20child%20he%20understood%20discrimination.
Johnny Harris. "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHjbay54F4U." YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHjbay54F4U. Accessed 24 Nov. 2022.
"The 'One Love' Armband Is Causing a Stir at the World Cup." Time, 21 Nov. 2022, time.com/6235503/one-love-armband-qatar-world-cup/.
Vox. "How FIFA corrupted the World Cup." YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlKVfJg4hHE.
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