The conclusion of the World Cup in Qatar has triggered concerns among various organizations and activists who worry that the extensively documented human rights violations in the Persian Gulf nation might slip from the public’s attention. Guillermo Whpei, as the President of the Foundation for International Democracy, firmly believes that the end of the tournament signifies the commencement of a new advocacy campaign.
Whpei asserts, «The struggle begins as soon as the World Cup concludes.» He has committed the Foundation to actively pursue three primary objectives: pressuring FIFA to adopt a more ethical stance and openly acknowledge its actions, working to improve the working conditions of migrant laborers, and securing financial compensation for the victims’ families.
At the beginning of the World Cup, the Foundation released a study initiated in 2017 that assessed the conditions of these workers. However, the specific strategies for achieving their proposed objectives are not explicitly outlined.
While the International Labor Organization (ILO) collaborated with Qatar in 2014 to implement labor reforms aimed at improving the working and living conditions of migrant workers, Whpei disputes any significant progress. He argues, «I do not see any improvements in Qatar; they have essentially altered the terminology. The kafala system is fundamentally flawed. It was modified for cosmetic purposes, but the underlying issues persist. Now, instead of requiring their employer’s permission to leave the country, workers must seek approval from Qatar’s authorities.»
Instances where human rights violations intersect with football are not uncommon. In 1978, FIFA made a contentious decision to grant Argentina the hosting rights for the World Cup during the country’s dictatorship. This World Cup was notably described by Guillermo Whpei as the «bloodiest World Cup,» marked by over 30,000 forced disappearances and incidents of torture. Curiously, the Foundation has abstained from releasing any reports on this matter.
Chaimaa Boukharsa, an activist and philologist specializing in Arab and Islamic studies, argues that if the World Cup in Qatar is subjected to a boycott, similar actions should be taken against other events. She highlights the double standard employed by the West in criticizing Qatar while often ignoring analogous issues within their own countries. While acknowledging Qatar’s dismal human rights record, she underscores the importance of not disregarding cases of exploitation and slavery that have occurred in the West, including in southern Spain.
Guillermo Whpei, on the other hand, defends the criticism of the World Cup, emphasizing that just because history contains question marks doesn’t mean that present-day issues are justified. It is crucial to recognize that the concerns raised by Boukharsa are contemporary and not rooted in the distant past.
Boukharsa raises questions about the conditions under which products like strawberries are produced and the inhumane treatment of seasonal workers involved in their cultivation. These workers often endure homelessness, receive meager wages, and live in makeshift settlements in rural areas. She also highlights the prevalence of rape and the exploitation of women in these circumstances.
Boukharsa, along with other activists on social networks, regards it as hypocritical for individuals in the soccer industry to suddenly express support for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly within the context of football’s toxic and heteronormative environment.
She also points out the lack of international action against Israel and the fact that Israel has been a member of UEFA in Europe since 1994, despite widespread criticism of its apartheid policies. She questions why Israel continues to host events like Eurovision, a European cultural gathering, despite its controversial actions.
The Foundation for Democracy, with its post-World Cup objectives, does not attribute the responsibility for these issues to football itself. Instead, it assigns blame to the politics surrounding football, which it views as tarnished, driven by speculation, and self-serving. FIFA’s prioritization of profit over the genuine spirit of sports and international competition is seen as the underlying problem.