'Sportswashing' a dismal rights record

FIFA's decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia raises ethical questions, says Keith Rathbone

- Keith Rathbone

Some days ago, FIFA officially awarded Saudi Arabia the 2034 World Cup. The Gulf Kingdom was the sole bidder after the Asian Football Confederation made it clear it would not support an Australian bid.

Supporters of the decision, including respected sports journalist Tracey Holmes, argue a World Cup in the kingdom offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to foster positive change. A range of celebrities and players also congratulated the Saudi Arabian Football Association and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

Human rights groups, though, have widely condemned FIFA's decision. Human Rights Watch warned: "[There is] a near certainty the 2034 World Cup [...] will be stained with pervasive rights violations."

FIFA claims it can encourage positive human rights transformations in host nations, and since 2017 it has enshrined human rights in its guiding principles.

In 2017, FIFA's executive committee signed on to the so-called "Ruggie Principles", adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council unanimously in 2011.

These principles recognise that:

states have the duty to protect human rights

businesses have the responsibility to align their activities with human rights

individuals and organisations need to have effective judicial and non-judicial remedies to human rights violations.

FIFA subsequently published its own Human Rights Policy. It makes a commitment for FIFA to "exercise its leverage, and seek to increase said leverage where necessary, in connection with adverse human rights impacts arising through its business relationships" and to "strive to go beyond its responsibility to respect human rights [...] by taking measures to promote the protection of human rights."