FIFA urges teams to ‘focus on football’ at World Cup amid criticism of Qatar

By Nwabugwu Victoria roseline

FIFA has pleaded with teams that are set to participate at the World Cup in Qatar to ‘now focus on the football’ and not allow the sport to be ‘dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists

The call was made in a letter sent by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and secretary general, Fatma Samoura, to all 32 nations, which are due to compete in Qatar.

The build-up to the World Cup has been dominated by concerns over Qatar’s labour laws, treatment of migrant workers and policies on homosexuality and women’s rights.

Australian footballers have recently released a video message criticising Qatar’s human rights record, urging the country to decriminalise same-sex relationships.

Canada has also called on the hosts to improve the rights of migrant workers, while Denmark’s players are set to wear a ‘toned down’ kit in protest against Qatar staging the World Cup, claiming the tournament has ‘cost thousands of lives.’

The captains of Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales are due to wear a ‘OneLove’ armband as part of a campaign to promote diversity and inclusion.

With a little over two weeks to go until the World Cup is due to start, the FIFA leadership has called on teams to concentrate on playing football.

“Please, let’s now focus on the football,” the letter from Infantino and Samoura read.

“We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.