International lawyers on Wednesday urged FIFA to defend its own policy and examine Saudi Arabia's human rights record before choosing the kingdom to host the 2034 men's World Cup.
A 22-page document was delivered to FIFA headquarters in Zurich on behalf of Mark Pieth and Stefan Wehrenberg of Switzerland and British lawyer Rodney Dixon. They offered to work with FIFA on an action plan and monitoring of Saudi Arabia by independent experts.
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Their document calls on FIFA to use its influence now with Saudi Arabia to meet the international human rights standards that the world soccer body's own policy since 2017 has required of tournament hosts.
“It is obvious that Saudi Arabia falls far short of these requirements,” the document says. “Given this, as things currently stand, FIFA simply cannot adequately allow you to host the 2034 World Cup.”
They cite Saudi Arabia's record on freedom of expression and assembly, treatment of prisoners and migrant workers, and male guardianship laws that limit women's personal freedoms.
Saudi Arabia has consistently said it is changing rapidly as part of the Vision 2030 program to modernize the kingdom's economy and society pushed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Organizing more sporting and entertainment events is key to making the program less dependent on oil riches.
Saudi Arabia is the only candidate to host the 2034 World Cup in an accelerated process that FIFA opened last October in a surprise move.
By negotiating a deal to jointly host three continents and six countries for the 2030 tournament, FIFA effectively cleared the way for Saudi Arabia to win the next edition without a rival bid.
The Saudi candidacy must be formally presented in July and will be confirmed on December 11 in an online vote of FIFA's 211 member federations.
Lawyers want FIFA to use the leverage it now has to try to comply with the soccer body's own policy drafted seven years ago by Harvard University professor John Ruggie. He previously shaped the United Nations guiding principles on business and human rights.
“Let's give FIFA a chance,” Pieth told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
“FIFA has written a very impressive document and I would be very happy to see FIFA live up to their standards.”
Pieth previously worked with FIFA between 2011 and 2014 advising on anti-corruption and good governance reforms following a bribery scandal in its presidential election held six months after Russia and Qatar were chosen as future World Cup hosts.
After controversy over the lack of scrutiny of 2022 World Cup host Qatar, primarily over its treatment of migrant workers needed to build stadiums and infrastructure projects, FIFA acted seven years ago to incorporate human rights assessments. of the tournament bidders.
Since 2017, a year after Gianni Infantino was elected FIFA president following wide-ranging investigations into corrupt soccer officials, he has established close ties with Saudi Arabia and its crown prince.
Pieth, Wehrenberg and Dixon said their document for FIFA was written “on behalf of people who suffer serious violations of their basic human rights and freedoms by Saudi Arabia.”
“The authors of this submission are willing to engage constructively with FIFA to ensure that at least these minimum requirements are met,” they said.
FIFA has been contacted for comment.
The bidding rules for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups commit FIFA to respect human rights in “activities related to the candidacy and holding” of tournaments, rather than in society in general.
