“Demands for equality, dignity and compensation cannot be treated as some sort of culture war – they are universal human rights that FIFA has committed to respect in its own statutes,” Amnesty International spokesperson Steve Cockburn
As a sports ethics keynote speaker and sports ethics consultant, I suppose I am hypersensitive to deflection. For example, a muscular NFL running back beats his fiancé senseless and unconscious, then claims she instigated it by spitting on him during the pre-beatdown argument. Deflection may be a tool commonly used by the unethical, but it doesn’t make it right, especially those in Europe and North America.
My reaction to FIFA President Gianni Infantino defending Qatar is relatively the same. As the World Cup was about to get underway on November 18, 2022, Infantino blasted all of Qatar’s critics in a diatribe of massive deflection:
“It’s sad that we can’t focus on football. You want to criticize someone, come to me. Criticize me. Crucify me. I’m here for that. Don’t criticize the players, don’t criticize Qatar.” Then he launched into an attack of the hypocrisy of the U.S. and other countries who were not pleased with Qatar’s stance on human rights.
Not about the beer
Qatar, a Muslim country, banned, then allowed, then banned again beer sales in and around the stadium. Some took exception to the banning of alcohol and Qatar didn’t care. As a sports ethics speaker, I don’t care about that very much myself. I could stress less about not being able to get sloshed while watching a (football/soccer) game. It is Qatar’s privilege and I respect their religious views on alcohol. I used to frequently visit Salt Lake City and somehow, I made it through my business trips without drinking. Didn’t miss it at all.
However, my problems with Qatar are not alcohol related. It is no secret how Qatar feels about issues relating to homosexuality and to all issues LGBTQ+ and to how they treat the hordes of laborers who make the country run.
It is no issue either that Qatar is virulently anti-Semitic.
Qatar, like it or not, is hosting athletes who are gay, Jewish and some are from countries who send their workers to Qatar to do their dirty work. In defending Qatar against criticism, Gianni Infantino mocked critics for their double standards. Yet, the biggest double-standard might have been generated by Infantino himself.
Most of the world cannot fathom how Qatar got to host the World Cup. FIFA’s coffers and its officials have allegedly become wealthy off of the cash funneled from Qatar into their collective pockets. No wonder FIFA is out in the Qatari sunshine polishing the Rolls Royce’s of the sheiks. He’s assured the LGBTQ+ community that everyone is welcome at the games and everyone is safe. However, for any member of the LGBTQ+ community thinking about extending their stay, I would recommend a second-look.
Yes, we had a lousy record
The U.S., U.K. and many other nations have had more than their share of problems with racism, homophobia, immigrants and anti-Semitism. No one is denying that. But we are trying (most of us) to address the endemic problems and to make up for the wrongs of the past. Infantino knows that too.
However, Qatar has not even attempted to try. There have been numerous human rights abuses including deaths. They have not blinked an eye of apology.
If FIFA is so outraged at the world’s disgust with Qatar, in turn they should have considered why so many of us are outraged at FIFA’s defense of Qatar. Most of us are trying to grow into more evolved humans; I doubt if Qatar feels the need to evolve at all. FIFA and its officials are allegedly content with what they have fashioned in the heat of the desert. Enough money can numb even the most self-righteous.
However, no power on earth can numb ethical truth and FIFA needs to answer for its ethics to athletes everywhere.
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