Australian national soccer team calls out Qatar’s human rights issues
The World Cup host country Qatar has been under fire for human rights abuses and with the tournament just weeks away, the Australian squad has spoken up.
Qatar does not have a good track record when it comes to human rights. As the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup, Qatar has had a lot of recent attention, which brought to light several issues. Its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social confines are some of the issues for which Qatar has come under intense scrutiny.
The tournament is set to take place on November 20 with the host country playing Ecuador. The Australian national soccer team released a video speaking out against Qatar’s labor conditions while also emphasizing the lack of basic rights afforded to LGBTQ people within the country.
“We have learned that the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has resulted in the suffering and in the harm of countless of our fellow workers,” said Australian player Jackson Irvine.
Qatar’s poor human rights record has led to several requests for teams and officials to boycott the World Cup games. The Dutch government had voted not to send a delegation to the tournament, but confirmed last week that they would. Australia’s governing body of soccer, Football Australia, acknowledged that there have been some reforms, but that the games will still be associated with the suffering of migrant workers.
“These migrant workers who have suffered are not just numbers,” said PFA president Alex Wilkinson. “Like the migrants that have shaped our country and our football, they possess the same courage and determination to build a better life.
The Australian team, the Socceroos, also acknowledged the reforms in the video. But they too, said it is not enough. Doha introduced a reform that included rules to protect workers from the extreme heat plus a minimum monthly wage of 1,000 riyals ($275).
“Whilst the reforms established in Qatar are an important and welcome step, their implementation remains inconsistent and requires improvement,” said Australian player Mitchell Langerak.
The team called on the Qatari government to include a migrant resource center and a remedy for those denied basic human rights and the decriminalization of same-sex marriage.
“These are the basic rights that should be afforded to all,” said Irvine. “And will ensure continued progress in Qatar.”
The players expressed their support of FIFPRO, a trade union for professional soccer players, for worker groups like Building and Woodworkers International and the International Trade Union Confederation.
“This is how we can ensure a legacy that goes well beyond the final whistle of the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” said Australian player Nicholas D’Agostino.
The video ends with several of the players saying these words following D’Agostino’s sentiment: “One that football can truly be proud of.”
Australia will play against France, Denmark, and Tunisia to start the World Cup, which begins on November 20.