Following the release of its “Bid Book” for the 48-team competition, Saudi Arabia has revealed that it has not complied with FIFA’s own human rights conditions in its bid for the 2034 men’s World Cup. Plans by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain to host the 2030 World Cup still have significant holes in them. Saudi Arabia has yet to commit to fundamentally reforming its exploitative labor system, improving freedom of expression, putting an end to the repression of human rights activists, or repealing laws that discriminate against women and LGBTI people, according to an analysis of the “Bid Books” and tournament “Human Rights Plans” that was published last night.
The price of hosting the World Cup
FIFA established explicit human rights requirements that all bidders had to fulfill, and it is evident that Saudi Arabia’s present offer is woefully inadequate for the 2034 World Cup. According to Steve Cockburn, Head of Labour Rights and Sport at Amnesty International, “the bid’s human rights plan simply ignores many of the enormous risks associated with hosting a mega sporting event in a country with such an atrocious human rights record. Saudi Arabia’s World Cup human rights strategy does not address the violent suppression of human rights advocates or the imprisonment of LGBTI individuals. Neither does it specify whether or how the exploitative Kafala system that takes advantage of migrant laborers would be ended in practice. That such obvious concerns may be so blatantly disregarded is astounding. Now, before any final decision is taken in December, FIFA needs to cooperate with the Saudi government to get legally enforceable agreements to address the human rights issues comprehensively, or else be ready to pull out. In addition, the Saudi government needs to show its support for human rights by freeing activists who were detained only for voicing their disagreements.
Saudi Arabia’s human rights record under scrutiny
Attorney AS&H Clifford’s “independent human rights context analysis”: A wide variety of human rights problems, such as the ban on trade unions, restrictions on the right to free speech, well-documented practices of forced evictions, or the prosecution of same-sex activities, were also left out of the bid, according to Chance to Inform. Only governmental entities provided input for the document’s production; neither civil society organizations nor rights advocates were contacted. Unaddressed are several significant human rights hazards related to Morocco, Portugal, and Spain hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2030. Amnesty International released a study in June that outlined difficulties with housing, police, discrimination, labor standards enforcement, and freedom of expression. The 2030 tournament’s human rights plans, which were created without consulting human rights groups or fan representatives, do not currently contain specific promises regarding how many of these dangers will be mitigated. For instance, even though security personnel have used excessive force against spectators in all three nations, including firing rubber bullets into crowds, there are no specific procedures in place to stop these infractions.
FIFA’s complicity in human rights issues
Additionally, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain need to address certain concerns related to the 2030 World Cup, such as the possibility of forced evictions, the enforcement of labor laws, and the disproportionate use of force by police against spectators. Working together with fan groups, players, labor unions, and civil society organizations, far more detailed planning is required to guarantee that the event complies with international human rights norms, according to Steve Cockburn. The 2030 tournament’s awarding to Morocco, Portugal, and Spain should also serve as a spark for the struggle against the prejudice that has far too frequently damaged football in all three of these nations racist, sexist, and gay. This should involve getting rid of laws that discriminate against certain groups and collaborating with them to develop inclusiveness and harassment prevention tactics. A comprehensive analysis titled “Playing a Dangerous Game?” was released by Amnesty International in June. It outlined the major human rights concerns connected to the 2030 and 2034 FIFA World Cup contenders and contrasted them with the standards for human rights specified in FIFA’s bidding regulations. FIFA released the “Bid Books” which Morocco, Portugal, and Spain filed for the 2030 World Cup and Saudi Arabia for the 2034 edition on July 31. Human rights plans and “independent human rights context assessments” that were meant to draw attention to significant concerns were included in the Bid Books.
The ethics of hosting global events
By FIFA’s own Bidding Regulations, which are described as “legally binding obligations,” bids must be approved based on many international human rights requirements. These cover guidelines for employment rights, harassment, evictions without cause, freedom of speech, law enforcement, and other matters. In preparation for an extraordinary FIFA Congress scheduled for December 11, 2024, when a decision is expected to be made, FIFA will now assess the Bid Books.