Global InformationList of 2022 FIFA World Cup controversies information
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The decision of FIFA to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar sparked a number of concerns and controversies regarding both Qatar's suitability as a host country and the fairness of the FIFA World Cup bidding process.[1][2][3] Some media outlets, sporting experts, and human rights groups have criticised Qatar's record of human rights violations;[1][2][4][5] Qatar's limited football history; the high expected cost; the local climate;[1] and alleged bribery in the bidding process.[2] Not all nations competing have put focus on concerns.[6]
Criticism of human rights in Qatar focused on the treatment of migrant workers,[4][7][8] women,[1][2] and position on LGBT rights,[8] leading to allegations of sportswashing.[1][2][7][9][10] Others have cited Qatar's intense climate and lack of a strong football culture, as well as evidence of bribery for hosting rights and wider FIFA corruption.[1][2][11][12] Boycotts of the event were declared by several countries, clubs, and individual players,[11][12] while former FIFA President Sepp Blatter has twice said that giving Qatar hosting rights was a "mistake".[13][14] Match attendance figures have also come under scrutiny as reported crowd attendances have exceeded stadium capacities despite games having visible empty seats.[15] Over the past 5 years, the government has engaged closely with the ILO (international labor organization), international trade union, NGOs, etc. The Guardian reported it all in its article published on 23 October 2022. The article included statements from workers involved in building infrastructure of the World Cup 2022. A survey among 1,000 low-wage workers found that 86% of respondents felt that the labor reforms had positively affected their lives. Now workers can negotiate for better conditions, and employers are incentivized to provide them in order to attract and retain talent.[16] Legislation has also been introduced to the minimum wage, on protecting outdoor workers during the summer months, and on the election of migrant worker representatives within companies. Change to the kafala system has led to labor mobility.[17] Another report by the United Nations claimed that “Qatar is changing. The new kafala system tranche of law will bring an end to kafala and put in place a modern industrial relations system” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. This was published on October 17, 2019, before the world cup took place.[18]
Incumbent FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the hosting of the tournament in Qatar.[19] Others have suggested that Qatar's human rights record is better than those of Russia and China, nations which received less widespread criticism for similar issues when hosting major sporting events in the years prior to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[20] The controversies surrounding the World Cup in Qatar have been described as a cultural conflict or "Clash of Civilizations" between authoritarian Islamic regimes and secular liberal democracies.[1][2][4][8][9] The Qatari tournament is widely regarded as one of the most controversial FIFA World Cups in history.[21]
- ^ a b c d e f g McTague, Tom (19 November 2022). "The Qatar World Cup Exposes Soccer's Shame". The Atlantic. Washington, D.C.: Emerson Collective. ISSN 2151-9463. OCLC 936540106. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Boehm, Eric (21 November 2022). "The Qatar World Cup Is a Celebration of Authoritarianism". Reason. Reason Foundation. OCLC 818916200. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022: Why Qatar is a controversial location for the tournament". Reuters/Times of India. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Begum, Rothna (25 November 2022). "Qatar Can't Hide Its Abuses by Calling Criticism Racist". Foreign Policy. Washington, D.C.: Graham Holdings Company. ISSN 0015-7228. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ Tony Manfred (1 March 2015). "14 reasons the Qatar World Cup is going to be a disaster". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "2022 World Cup: Criticism of Qatar finds unequal resonance around the world". Le Monde.fr. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Abadía 2021was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Frantzman, Seth J. (6 December 2022). "Is Qatar using anti-Israel sentiment to deflect from critique? – analysis". The Jerusalem Post. Jerusalem. ISSN 0792-822X. OCLC 15700704. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ a b Baxter, Kevin (20 November 2022). "Qatar walks tightrope between Arab values and Western norms with World Cup gamble". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ Sullivan, Becky (18 November 2022). "Why Qatar is a controversial host for the World Cup". NPR. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ a b Alam, Niaz (18 November 2022). "Corruption beats boycotts". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ a b Benedetti, Eliezer (20 November 2022). ""15.000 muertos por 5.760 minutos de fútbol": ¿Qué es #BoycottQatar2022 y por qué es tendencia todos los días?". El Comercio (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Sepp Blatter: Former FIFA president admits decision to award the World Cup to Qatar was a 'mistake'". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ "Sepp Blatter: awarding 2022 World Cup to Qatar was a mistake". the Guardian. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ "World Cup announce questionable attendance figures with capacities exceeded at stadiums". the Guardian. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ Pattisson, Pete (23 October 2022). "Has the World Cup really improved workers' rights in Qatar? Five experts give their verdict". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "ILO Director-General concludes visit to Qatar". www.ilo.org. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ "New labour laws in Qatar benefiting migrant workers a 'momentous step forward': ILO | UN News". news.un.org. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:8was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "In defence of Qatar's hosting of the World Cup". The Economist. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022: One of the most controversial world cups in football history". Wion.