Program Intern, World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Published: May 27, 2015
The largest sports event in the world, the aptly named World Cup, is once again plagued by controversy. A quadrennial soccer competition that pits together the best national teams, the World Cup is prized by many countries who wish to host the event. The privilege of hosting the event is determined by the FIFA executive committee, a decision making body within the governing institution of soccer. These twenty-two members cast a vote for the various countries bidding for the illustrious right to put their respective country on the map. The boost in tourism that the World Cup provides leads to significant economic growth, as well as international acclaim for the host country. Brazil, the host country for the 2014 World Cup, was notoriously criticized for their sluggish construction of the stadiums necessary for the competition, as well as the dangerous working conditions that directly led to eight deaths. However, the host country for the 2022 World Cup has already surpassed the death toll and controversy surrounding the most recent event.
Qatar, a small country in the Persian Gulf region of the Arabian Peninsula, defeated bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States. This marks the first time that the World Cup will be hosted in the Middle East, and Qatar will also be the smallest country to ever host the tournament. Although the World Cup may benefit from the diversity provided by Qatar, the cons far outweigh the pros. A plethora of issues have accompanied the decision to allow Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. For example, the climate of Qatar would make playing soccer almost impossible. During the summer months, which are when the World Cup is traditionally held, the average temperature in Qatar surpasses 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These conditions would prevent soccer players from competing for any duration that approaches the time of an entire match. Due to this extreme heat, FIFA has been forced to postpone the 2022 World Cup from summer to winter. Although this decision seems trivial and is necessary due to Qatar’s climate, there is a large consequence for pushing back the date of the tournament.
The World Cup is a competition that takes place between the thirty-two best national teams in soccer. Although these soccer players compete for their respective nation during the World Cup, their livelihood depends on playing for an individual club team. For example, Lionel Messi, one of the greatest players in soccer today, plays for F.C. Barcelona in the Spanish soccer league, or La Liga. During the World Cup however, Lionel Messi will play for his home country of Argentina. In order to avoid any conflict of interests, the World Cup is scheduled during the summer so that the season of league competition, which often occurs from the beginning of fall to late spring, does not interfere. By pushing back the 2022 World Cup into winter, many soccer players will have the prior commitment of playing for their club team. In addition to this issue, broadcasting the World Cup in the winter has also been met with concern. FOX Broadcasting Company bought the rights to televise the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, however by moving the tournament from summer to winter a problem has risen. The American football season is underway during this period of time, and FOX would be both unwilling and unable to televise the event. This problem almost led to a legal fight, but FIFA wisely gave FOX the right to broadcast the 2026 World Cup without a tender.
Despite all of the problems associated with moving the date of the 2022 World Cup, the more pressing issue has occurred with preparation. Unable to hire the workforce necessary to complete construction for the upcoming event, Qatar has utilized migrant workers to get the bulk of the work done. These 1.5 million workers are subjugated to terrible working conditions, which include unpaid labor, exposure to extreme temperatures, cramped living quarters, and little access to water for drinking or hygiene. An estimated number of 1,200 migrant workers have been killed since construction has begun, and with the tournament still 7 years away, the death toll is likely to rise. These migrant workers are being reduced to slave labor, and Qatar refuses to abide by humane labor laws that are laid out to prevent this treatment. How is it then possible for FIFA to continue to support Qatar as a host for the 2022 World Cup?
The obvious answer lies in the oil fields of
the Persian Gulf. Qatar is a remarkably wealthy nation, and therefore able to
exert its influence with the FIFA executive committee. FIFA is a notoriously
corrupt organization, and bribery is considered a common practice. As of May 27th,
the U.S. Justice Department indicted 14 FIFA executives on charges of
corruption. These individuals are accused of taking bribes for securing the
2010 World Cup in South Africa. Whether or not a conviction follows these
accusations, it is clear that the current system needs to be evaluated and immediate
change needs to occur. Without protest from the international community, FIFA
will continue to blindly support the highest bidder. Despite the plethora of complications
associated with Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup, the safety of migrant workers
must be a priority and incentivize people to take action against FIFA. Qatar is
not qualified to host the 2022 World Cup, and FIFA is not a responsible organization
that deserves to be the governing body for the sport of soccer.
No comments:
Post a Comment