5 minute read
Controversy in Qatar
16 |sports Fans furious with FIFA following flagrant human rights abuses
Maya Hruskar ‘23 Creative Director
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99 cents The amount migrant workers made per hour
90% of Qatar’s population are migrant workers
Usually, the World Cup sets fans abuzz with discussion of likely reported “serious exploitation” of these workers. Qatar promised to improve working conteams took in 2021 against the creation of the sues have also received lots of media attention. winners, favorite teams and the style of the new uniforms. is year, however, the spotlight has Source: Amnesty International been turned on the host country. is World Cup is being held in Qatar, an unlikely host nation considering its lack of soccer culture and restrictive social policies. It is a country with poor worker rights, treatment of women and LGBTQ discrimination. Many have criticized FIFA, soccer’s world governance organization, for allowing Qatar to host the World Cup, but FIFA has argued that the World Cup is an opportunity to expose Qatar to more diverse cultures and perspectives.
“I think the World Cup has done a good job of introducing new communities to the sport and promoting diversity,” Tavan Bhatia ‘23, an avid soccer fan, said.
One big aspect of the controversy is Source: NPR worker rights problems in Qatar. e majority of Qatar’s population are migrant workers without citizenship; in 2013, Amnesty International ditions for the World Cup, but in 2019, Amnesty International reported that they were falling short. e Qatar World Cup chief also
“recently stated that er teams. is mass ing fans would not be subject to such laws and that rainbow between 400 and 500 migrant workers died in projects related to the tournament. “ e footballing associations of each competing nation are responsible for taking a stand if they disagree with the selection ahead of time,” Bhatia said. “If teams didn’t agree with Qatar, it needed to be immediate, not after billions of dollars and thousands of lives were exhausted.” Bhatia pointed to previously successful soccer-related protests, such as the widespread action fans and European Super League, an exclusive soccer league that would have blocked out smallprotest helped to prevent the super league from forming. “You cannot sit there and ignore what is happening,” Cami Kolek ’23, a girls’ soccer team player said. “I think you still have to acknowledge it no matter what.” Kolek argued that FIFA should have taken into account the human rights abuses in Qatar and never selected them in the rst place. She also highlighted the di culty individual players would have in choosing to boycott. “ ere’s a lot of pressure to perform and to attend,” Kolek said. “It’s a career advancing opportunity.” LGBTQ isIn Qatar, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by seven years in prison. Qatar promised that visit ags would be allowed within stadiums. However FIFA recently banned players from wearing rainbow armbands - threatening a yellow card to anyone who broke the rule. “ e protest has nothing to do with the game itself,” Will Vanamee ’25, co-head of the Pride Newsletter from the Staples Pride Coalition, said. “FIFA should not take action nor should they be siding against the expression of culture and identity.” Vanamee also agreed that FIFA should never have chosen Qatar against bids from other countries. “Noise has to be made immediately,” Bhatia said, “Action has to be clear and without fear or hesitation.”
WORKER MISTREATMENT 400-500 migrant workers died from poor working conditions while building the Al Bayt Stadium for the 2022 World Cup. Photo contributed by Jonny Costello ’25
18|
Merry Crossmas
Contributed by Tavan Bhatia ’23, Jeffrey Pogue ’23 & Oscar Scher ’23
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