fifa

December 12, 2024 1:16 PM

Saudi Arabia’s world cup win sparks criticism over human rights record, FIFA faces backlash

Rights organisations strongly criticised FIFA on Wednesday after world soccer's ruling body officially awarded the 2034 men's World Cup to Saudi Arabia. Hosting the global showpiece tournament is the pinnacle of Saudi Arabia's massive push into sports and entertainment over recent years as it seeks to improve its international image. "FIFA's reckless decision... will put many lives at risk," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labour Rights and Sport, said in a statement issued by ...

FIFA must halt Saudi World Cup bid due to human rights issues, says Amnesty

FIFA must halt the process to pick Saudi Arabia as hosts of the 2034 World Cup unless major human rights reforms are announced before the vote next month, Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) have said. Soccer's world governing body awarded the 2030 World Cup to Morocco, Spain and Portugal in October last year while Saudi Arabia is the lone bidder for the 2034 edition. Amnesty and the SRA said they had evaluated the human rights strategies proposed by the bidding c...