PFA Puts Up Bravely The Australia-based trade union for professional football players, also known as the PFA, objected to the announcement of FIFA awarding the hosting rights of the year 2034 FIFA World Cup to Saudi Arabia based on the realm’s human rights record and the governance and accountability of FIFA itself.
The tournament hosting rights were awarded to Saudi Arabia, the confirmed sole bidder for Wednesday without contest.
PFA Demands Accountability Beau Busch, CEO of the PFA, called upon the global football community to hold FIFA responsible for its decision, emphasizing the risks associated with Saudi Arabia’s human rights practices.
“Sustainable and documented significant human rights risks are associated with the event,” said Busch’s statement to a foreign news agency. “By being awarded the rights to host this hallowed event in the global game, Saudi Arabia must uphold the rights of every affected stakeholder by, and all people connected to, the event itself – the 2034 Men’s World Cup. However, there is no assurance injury can or will be prevented by FIFA’s ongoing governance and lack of accountability to its own human rights commitments.”
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Wider Criticism It has evoked diverse criticisms from migrant workers’ organizations, trade unions, and advocates of LGBTQ+, who have long complained of the human rights record in that country. The Saudi government rejected the allegations on human rights abuses, saying its laws were designed to ensure national security.
FIFA’s Controversial Process Within days from the time FIFA announced that the 2034 tournament would take place in either Asia or Oceania, a deadline for submissions was given a little less than four weeks. The Asian Football Confederation backed the candidature of Saudi Arabia, while Football Australia (FA) toyed with the idea of joint bidding with Indonesia but ended up scrapping it.
FA, which earlier condemned Qatar in relation to the 2022 World Cup and also raised eyebrows over Saudi sponsorship of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, has now cautiously welcomed the notion of the kingdom being able to deliver a tournament.
A whole chain of events is at play. Awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia amidst the almighty controversies of Fifa continues to fuel ongoing conflicts over how the gospel of football will be tailored to human rights and governance issues.