Why the World Cup in Qatar Brings Fans Joy and Anxiety

When it comes to the ugly part of that bargain, there is much to consider.

FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, claims that it works to foster a welcoming environment for all. But in Qatar, men control women’s rights, freedom of expression is limited and homosexuality is a crime. Recently, a Qatari World Cup ambassador said the nation’s draconian L.G.B.T.Q. laws must be respected and that homosexuality was “damage in the mind.”

Then there’s the human misery caused by Qatar as it built $300 billion worth of stadiums and other infrastructure for the World Cup virtually from scratch. Journalists and human rights observers from outside Qatar say hundreds, if not thousands, of workers died during the construction, though the Qataris offer a far lower toll.

“Unfortunately, of the millions of residents from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal who have lived in Qatar from 2011 to 2019, a very small percentage have sadly passed away,” reads a response by the government to a report of thousands of worker deaths.

As it developed for the World Cup, Qatar leaned on the “kafala” system, in which immigrant laborers are not allowed to return home or even switch jobs without permission from their bosses. The United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other like-minded groups have condemned the practice.

Plenty of the players will make their unhappiness known. Several European teams plan to send their captains to the field with heart-shaped, multicolored, “One Love” armbands to signal support for inclusivity. The United States national team will festoon its off-field events and headquarters with the rainbow logo.

Denmark recently unveiled black jerseys meant to protest for human rights and mourn the migrant laborers who died constructing sites for the tournament.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/21/sports/soccer/qatar-human-rights-world-cup.html