Amnesty International reacted furiously on Friday to FIFA’s remarkable letter, which was signed by President Gianni Infantino. In the letter, the World Football Association called on all World Cup countries to “focus fully on football”.
“If Infantino wants the world to ‘focus on football,’ there is a simple solution: FIFA could start addressing the serious human rights violations instead of brushing them under the rug,” the human rights organization wrote in a statement. a statement.
The statement is a response to the letter from FIFA, which also arrived at the KNVB in Zeist. In the letter, the World Football Association asks the participating World Cup countries not to participate in “ideological and political battles that exist in the world”.
In the run-up to the start of the tournament, more and more countries expressed their criticism of Qatar in recent weeks. The emirate has been criticized mainly for its ill-treatment of guest workers and violations of human rights. For example, homosexuality is punishable in the emirate.
“A first step would be for FIFA to speak out publicly in favor of establishing a compensation fund for migrant workers and ensuring that LGBTI people are not discriminated against or harassed,” Amnesty said in the statement.
Amnesty and KNVB believe that FIFA should take action
According to Amnesty, FIFA should take action. According to the human rights organization, the union must commit itself to the compensation fund, which Qatar recently waived. The emirate’s minister previously dismissed the calls for such a fund as “a publicity stunt” by other countries.
“Hundreds of thousands of workers have been used to make this tournament possible and their rights cannot be forgotten or brushed aside. It is mind-boggling. They deserve justice and compensation, not empty promises, and the clock is ticking,” the statement read.
The KNVB agrees with Amnesty’s appeal. “We want these matters to be taken care of before the World Cup starts,” reports the association, which works together with other European countries in this area. “We want a convincing answer, which FIFA has promised us several times.”
The controversial World Cup in Qatar will start on November 20 with the match between Qatar and Ecuador, group members of the Dutch national team. The Orange squad starts the tournament a day later. The team of national coach Louis van Gaal will then take on Senegal.
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