Norwegian Football Association clashes with Qatar at FIFA conference for World Cup draw | Football

“Human rights, equality and democracy, the basic values ​​of football, were not part of the basic team for a long time,” said the former international, who recently became the first female chairman of the Norwegian federation. “FIFA has raised these points, but there is still a long way to go.”

critical speech

Moments later, Hassan Al-Thawadi, the secretary-general of the organizing committee, came on stage. “I want to express my disappointment with the speech of Madam President,” he said. “She didn’t ask us for an interview, she didn’t attempt a dialogue. Our door is always open for constructive criticism, based on the right knowledge, the facts and the context. For the Norwegian federation and anyone who has doubts: before the ball rolls, this World Cup has brought about historic changes. This World Cup makes the difference. Not for 28 days, not for a month, but decades after the last ball has been shot here.”

Norway, which has not qualified for the World Cup, considered a boycott of the tournament in Qatar last year. Union members voted against it. Klaveness seized the opportunity of the FIFA congress in Doha for a critical speech.

“Fifa in 2010 allocated the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in an unacceptable way, with unacceptable consequences. FIFA must take care of migrant workers who have been injured and the families of deceased migrant workers,” said Klaveness, who also mentioned Qatar’s LGBTI community, without clearly stating the name of the World Cup host country. “I still dream about football. Football for boys and girls, of all colors, of all orientations.”