Lise Klaveness criticizes Fifa and Qatar

Chairman of the Norwegian Football Association Lise Klaveness gave an impressive speech at the Fifa Annual Congress of the International Football Association.

In his speech, Klaveness highlighted major ethical issues that were not adequately addressed before the World Cup was awarded to Qatar.

The Norwegian also said directly that granting competitions to Qatar is not acceptable.

The main forgotten

According to Klaveness, Norway had previously considered opting out of the World Cup to protest Qatar’s poor human rights record and the substandard working conditions of foreign workers.

– Our members questioned the ethics of sport and demanded honesty. Fifan should act as a role model, Klaveness says.

The World Cup was awarded to Qatar in 2010. Klaveness tells how the core of football was then forgotten for a moment until it was brought back to the surface.

– The heart of football: human rights, equality and democracy have not been in place for many years. Fifa has raised these issues, but there is still a long way to go.

Klaveness highlighted things Qatar is not doing as a host country.

– There is no room for an employer that does not guarantee the freedom and security of its employees. There is no room for leaders who cannot accept women’s matches. There is no room for race hosts who cannot legally guarantee safety and appreciation for LGBTQ + people.

During the speech, constant pressure was created towards Fifa and Klaveness highlighted the attack on Russia, another participant in Russia, the host of previous competitions.

– The host country of the previous World Cup was removed from this year’s competitions, but only due to international pressure. Fifan should show direction and lead.

Giant stadiums were built from scratch in Qatar for the World Cup. Migrant labor was brought to the construction work. Their miserable living conditions have been reported for years.

It is estimated that up to thousands of people have died in the construction of stadiums and other infrastructure at the World Cup.

The executive disapproves

However, a bold speech was quickly made.

First, the boss of the Honduran Football Association Jose Ernesto Mejia resented the Norwegian outspokenness.

– We understand the concerns of our Norwegian colleagues, but we believe that now is not the time to discuss and analyze them, Mejia said.

– We’re here as one football family. We know that the Qatari authorities have worked hard with Fifa to ensure that the workers at the World Cup are in better conditions. This is not the time or place, although it is important. This is football, he continued.

Also Secretary General of the Qatar World Championships Hassan Al Thawadi immediately answered Klaveness’s speech.

The Secretary-General considered that the Norwegian information was out of date and should have been discussed earlier, even at the agreed meeting.

– I’m disappointed, Al Thawadi started.

– The President (Klaveness) has visited our country, but he did not request a meeting with us and did not try to talk until he rose to the podium.

He claimed that Qatar is always ready to discuss criticism and open up its actions. Al Thawad said Klaveness should have “educated” himself on these things before speaking.

– We have spent more than 12 years implementing a tournament that will leave a changed social, human, economic and environmental legacy.

The surprise award of the World Cup to Qatar in 2010 launched an extensive corruption investigation. It revealed that many of Fifa’s decision-makers received various bribes in return for a favorable vote in the World Cup hosts election.

The World Cup will be held in Qatar at the end of this year from 21 November to 18 December.

Source: The Independent