World Cup 2022: 10 European football associations respond to Fifa's 'focus on football' letter

2 years ago 41

Captain Harry Kane wearing a rainbow armband during an England game

Ten European shot associations including England and Wales accidental "human rights are cosmopolitan and use everywhere" aft Fifa asked nations competing astatine the Qatar World Cup to "now absorption connected the football".

The satellite governing assemblage wrote to each 32 teams pursuing a arguable build-up to the tournament, which starts connected 20 November.

Host Qatar has been criticised for its stance connected same-sex relationships, its quality rights grounds and its attraction of migrant workers.

The missive was criticised by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and LGBT+ campaigners successful England and Wales.

While acknowledging the "significant progress" made by Qatar, a associated connection issued by members of the Uefa Working Group connected quality rights and labour rights said it would "continue to press" Fifa for answers connected outstanding issues surrounding migrant workers.

"We acknowledge, and welcome, arsenic we person done successful the past, that important advancement has been made by Qatar, peculiarly with regards to the rights of migrant workers, with the interaction of legislative changes demonstrated successful the International Labour Organisation's caller reports," said the statement.

"We invited the assurances fixed by the Qatari Government and by Fifa regarding the safety, security, and inclusion of each fans who question to the World Cup, including LGBTQ+ fans. We besides recognise that each state has issues and challenges and we hold with Fifa that diverseness is simply a strength.

"However, embracing diverseness and tolerance besides means supporting quality rights. Human rights are cosmopolitan and they use everywhere."

Fifa's letter, signed by its president Gianni Infantino and caput wide Fatma Samoura, urged that shot should not beryllium "dragged" into ideological oregon governmental "battles" and it should not beryllium "handing retired motivation lessons".

Peaceful protests person been planned by immoderate players, portion England's Harry Kane and 9 different captains of European teams volition beryllium wearing 'One Love' armbands. to beforehand diverseness and inclusion.

Denmark volition deterioration "toned-down" shirts to protestation against Qatar, with kit supplier Hummel saying it "does not privation to beryllium visible" successful a tourney it claims "has outgo thousands of lives", portion Australia's squad person released a video urging Qatar to abolish its laws connected same-sex relationships.

England's FA has backed calls for compensation to beryllium awarded for "any wounded oregon decease related to immoderate operation project" for the World Cup.

"We volition proceed to enactment the momentum for positive, progressive alteration and proceed to advocator for a conclusive result and update connected the 2 cardinal outstanding issues we person been discussing with Fifa for a agelong time," the Uefa Working Group's connection continued.

"Fifa has repeatedly committed to present factual answers connected these issues - the compensation money for migrant workers, and the conception of a migrant workers centre to beryllium created successful Doha - and we volition proceed to property for these to beryllium delivered.

"We judge successful the powerfulness of shot to marque further affirmative and credible contributions to progressive sustainable alteration successful the world."

On Saturday, protests were held astatine Bundesliga games successful Germany with fans holding up banners successful the crowd.