Australia’s Professional Footballers Union (PFA) has voiced strong opposition to FIFA’s decision to award the 2034 FIFA World Cup to Saudi Arabia, citing the kingdom’s human rights record and questioning FIFA’s governance and accountability.
FIFA confirmed the tournament’s hosting rights on Wednesday without contest, with Saudi Arabia being the sole bidder.
PFA Demands Accountability
Beau Busch, CEO of the PFA, called on the global football community to hold FIFA responsible for its decision, emphasizing the risks associated with Saudi Arabia’s human rights practices.
“The significant human rights risks linked to this tournament are well-documented,” Busch said in a statement to a foreign news agency. “By securing hosting rights to the global game’s most prestigious event, Saudi Arabia and FIFA must ensure the rights of everyone affected by the 2034 Men’s World Cup are upheld and safeguarded. However, FIFA’s ongoing governance failures and lack of accountability to its own human rights commitments leave no assurance that harm can or will be prevented.”
Broader Criticism
The decision has drawn widespread criticism from various groups, including migrant workers’ organizations, trade unions, and LGBTQ+ advocates, who have long raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The Saudi government denies accusations of rights abuses, maintaining its laws are designed to protect national security.
FIFA’s Controversial Process
Saudi Arabia’s bid was confirmed shortly after FIFA announced the 2034 tournament would be hosted in Asia or Oceania, with a bid submission deadline of less than four weeks. While the Asian Football Confederation supported Saudi Arabia’s bid, Football Australia (FA) considered a joint bid with Indonesia but ultimately decided against it.
FA, which had previously criticized Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup and objected to Saudi sponsorship of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, has now expressed cautious optimism about the kingdom’s ability to deliver a successful tournament.
A Pattern of Controversy
The decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia continues a trend of contentious FIFA decisions, highlighting ongoing debates about balancing the global growth of football with ethical concerns over human rights and governance.
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