13 decemder, 2024
On December 11, 2024, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) officially announced Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 World Cup. FIFA highlighted that Saudi Arabia had achieved the highest technical evaluation score in the history of bidding for the tournament. However, despite FIFA’s stated commitment to human rights as part of its host selection process, the decision to choose Saudi Arabia starkly underscores the contradiction between its declared commitments and the actual reality.
FIFA's Commitments and International Standards
FIFA's human rights policy, introduced in June 2017, incorporates international principles to ensure respect for human rights throughout all stages of tournament organization. These principles align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international treaties. Nevertheless, reports from human rights organizations have consistently revealed ongoing violations in Saudi Arabia that render it unfit to host a global event of this magnitude. Yet, the kingdom was still selected to host the 2034 tournament.
Alignment with International Human Rights Principles
The host country is theoretically required to adhere to international human rights standards, including treaties related to civil and political rights, economic and social rights, and labor protection. While Saudi Arabia has ratified some of these agreements, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention Against Torture, reports from the United Nations and periodic reviews highlight systematic violations of these commitments.
Saudi Arabia remains one of the countries with the highest execution rates, recording over 300 executions since the beginning of 2024, including more than 100 involving foreign workers and 8 women. The kingdom continues to impose the death penalty for crimes that do not meet the threshold of "most serious crimes" under international law and poses a significant threat to minors' lives.
Labor Rights
Despite announcing reforms to the kafala (sponsorship) system, Saudi Arabia continues to apply it to numerous professions, a practice the United Nations has described as a form of modern slavery. With massive infrastructure projects anticipated in preparation for the World Cup, labor violations could escalate, especially given the lack of laws protecting workers from abuse or ensuring safe working conditions.
Discrimination
FIFA's standards explicitly prohibit all forms of discrimination based on race, religion, gender, or origin. However, practices in Saudi Arabia continue to permit gender-based discrimination. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has highlighted in its most recent review that many Saudi laws violate the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Saudi Arabia is a party. Additionally, the domestic legal framework does not provide a clear definition of discrimination against women. Furthermore, frequent reports indicate ongoing discrimination against minorities, depriving them of the right to practice their religious rituals freely.
freedom of expression
FIFA's standards emphasize the protection of freedom of expression, particularly for journalists and participants during the tournament. However, Saudi Arabia is ranked among the most oppressive countries regarding freedom of speech. There is no free or independent media, and prisons are filled with political dissidents who face harsh sentences, often extending to decades of imprisonment.
Community Engagement
FIFA's guidelines require civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to participate in monitoring human rights compliance during the organization of the tournament. Yet, Saudi Arabia criminalizes the activities of human rights defenders and prohibits the existence of local human rights organizations.
Moreover, the host country's commitments to human rights are expected to be monitored during and after the event. However, this is impossible in the absence of mechanisms for accountability and oversight within the country.
Hosting the World Cup in Saudi Arabia undermines FIFA's claims that major sporting events can promote human rights. Given the shocking numbers of executions, instances of torture, and the absence of freedoms, the question arises not only about the effectiveness of the standards but also about FIFA's credibility in upholding them.
ESOHR views granting Saudi Arabia the opportunity to host the World Cup as a stark contradiction between FIFA's claims of promoting human rights and the reality of ongoing violations. It calls for a transparent and independent review of the selection process, emphasizing the importance of holding host countries accountable for their human rights commitments.