FIFA’s boss has come under fire after a media conference on the eve of the Men’s World Cup
With the FIFA Men’s World Cup underway, Gianni Infantino has been in the spotlight for his recent comments.
“Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel a migrant worker,” he said.
Western representatives have been calling out FIFA for human rights concerns with the host nation, Qatar.
However, Mr Infantino said “what has been put on the table in the past few months is something quite incredible,” when asked about the criticism of Qatar from some western media.
Steve Cockburn is the Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, who said Infantino is brushing aside legitimate human rights criticisms.
“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.”
STEVE COCKBURN, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Mr Cockburn explained there is one tiny glimmer of hope, which involves FIFA’s legacy fund.
The fund seeks to assist people facing poverty, and educate children, particularly girls and women.
It will offer projects that grant children a chance to develop their skills and progress in their own lives, while equipping them with the tools needed to have a better future for themselves.
“If FIFA is to salvage anything from this tournament, it must announce that it will invest a significant part of the $6 billion the organisation will make from this tournament and make sure this fund is used to compensate workers and their families directly,” he said.
