Together for Justice Condemns FIFA’s Partnership with Saudi Arabia, Calling for Transparency and Respect for Human Rights
Together for Justice expresses profound concern over FIFA’s continued alignment with Saudi Arabia, highlighting severe ethical breaches, human rights violations, and the disturbing trend of ‘sportswashing’—using sports to mask abusive regimes. The 2034 World Cup bid for Saudi Arabia, endorsed by FIFA, raises critical questions about the integrity of international sports bodies and their responsibility to uphold human rights standards globally.
FIFA: Compromised Integrity in Exchange for Profit
Recent events underscore a worrying pattern of FIFA’s readiness to accept financial incentives to bolster Saudi Arabia’s image, sidelining its own commitment to human rights. The recent human rights assessment report conducted by AS&H Clifford Chance—a prominent law firm reportedly compensated by Saudi Arabia—has been widely criticized by human rights organizations for excluding critical areas like freedom of expression, and labor rights for migrant workers. This limitation undermines any claim that the assessment reflects genuine human rights concerns, instead suggesting a veiled attempt to sanitize Saudi Arabia’s reputation ahead of its 2034 World Cup bid.
In a troubling conflict of interest, AS&H Clifford Chance, the firm responsible for this assessment, has since been awarded the title of the “Best Law Firm in Saudi Arabia 2024.” This raises ethical questions about the impartiality of such assessments, given the monetary incentives involved, and further fuels accusations that FIFA’s endorsement of Saudi Arabia lacks transparency and prioritizes financial gain over integrity.
Athletes Demand Action, FIFA Remains Silent
Echoing global calls for justice, women football players have directly urged FIFA to sever ties with Saudi Arabia, condemning its oppressive treatment of women, and migrant workers. This letter, which calls for an end to FIFA’s complicity in Saudi Arabia’s abuses, has gone unanswered, reflecting FIFA’s reluctance to address serious human rights concerns when profits are at stake.
Migrant Worker Abuses: A Dark Forewarning
The record of labor abuse in Saudi Arabia is alarmingly well-documented. Reports detailing the brutal treatment of migrant workers highlight cases of exploitation, severe restriction of movement, and exposure to inhumane working conditions. Saudi Arabia’s previous track record of forced labor and the reported heinous abuses against migrant workers serve as a stark warning of what may come as the country prepares to host the World Cup in 2034. The world cannot turn a blind eye to the looming threat faced by thousands of workers who may soon be trapped in exploitative conditions to build the necessary infrastructure for the event.
Sportswashing: A Global Crisis in Human Rights Accountability
Saudi Arabia’s use of ‘sportswashing’—employing sports to deflect global criticism of its internal abuses—has escalated with FIFA’s cooperation. Saudi Arabia’s deep financial investment in the sports world, from purchasing major football clubs to securing prominent sponsorships, showcases a disturbing trend where powerful figures in global sports accept money to endorse authoritarian regimes, deliberately overlooking brutal human rights abuses. FIFA’s relationship with Saudi Arabia exemplifies a gross failure in maintaining ethical standards, casting doubt on its claims of supporting international human rights principles.
Where is FIFA’s Respect for Human Rights?
This situation begs the question: how can FIFA, an organization supposedly dedicated to promoting unity and respect, continue its partnership with Saudi Arabia while Saudi authorities blatantly disregard fundamental human rights? Together for Justice calls on FIFA to take immediate steps to uphold transparency, ethical responsibility, and, most importantly, the universal respect for human rights in all its dealings.
Together for Justice stands with human rights organizations, athletes, and advocates worldwide in demanding that FIFA re-evaluate its endorsement of Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup. We urge FIFA to prioritize human rights over profits and set a clear precedent against sportswashing by cutting its ties with Saudi Arabia until the nation enacts concrete, verifiable reforms. The integrity of international sports, and the lives of those it impacts, depend on it.
