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10 international football associations including the English and Welsh FA have responded to FIFA’s statement that urged the countries that will participate at the World Cup to focus on football.
The letter written by football’s governing body to all 32 teams that have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup did not trigger their desired response as these countries will not back down from speaking on the social issues that plague the World Cup’s host Nation. The letter was particularly criticized by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and LGBT+ campaigners in England and Wales.
Qatar have been subject to a lot of criticism because of their stance on same sex relationships as well as their treatment of immigrant workers and human rights issues.
A joint statement issued by members of the UEFA Working Group on human rights and labour rights expressed that although they acknowledge the great progress made by Qatar on this subject, they will continue to press FIFA for answers regarding the issues that has to do with migrant workers.
FIFA’s letter, signed by its president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Fatma Samoura, urged that football should not be “dragged” into ideological or political “battles” and it should not be “handing out moral lessons”.
These countries have already planned out peaceful protests during the tournament as captains like Gareth Bale and Harry Kane will be promoting diversity and inclusion by wearing one love armbands.
Australia’s national team have released a video asking Qatar to end its laws on same-sex relationship. Danish Kit makers Hummel have designed a toned down World Cup kits as they do not wish to be visible at a tournament they believe has claimed thousands of lives.
The UEFA working group have also asked for compensation funds to be provided for migrants as well as the construction of a migrant workers centre in Doha.
Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has described the criticism levied at Qatar as hypocrisy and claims that the countries that are involved do not represent the rest of the world.
The World Cup kicks off on November 20th where Qatar will take on Ecuador.
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