Saudi Arabia 2034: Unions & migrants' advocates warn of "repression, discrimination & exploitation on a massive scale"
rarrarruro, Shutterstock (licensed)
Together, we will continue to advocate for the rights of everyone in Saudi Arabia and beyond – migrant worker, resident, citizen, player, fan, activist or journalist – who may be impacted by the 2034 World Cup. While the Saudi population undoubtedly deserves to experience the joy that international sport can bring, this cannot come at any price. It must go hand in hand with measures to guarantee the rights that their government continues to deny them.Statement signatories
On 11 December, FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia as the hosts of the Men's World Cup 2034, following a process that has been dogged by criticism from trade unions, human rights, civil society, legal and diaspora groups for the severe risk the decision poses to migrant workers in a country which numbers among the worst globally on several human rights measures.
Following the vote, a coalition of over 20 Saudi diaspora and Middle East, workers' origin country-based, international, trade union and fan organisations released a joint statement that FIFA has ignored both civil society warnings of harm, and its own human rights policies, in awarding the bid to Saudi Arabia. The statement highlights the obligations of Saudi authorities, and the responsibilities to respect human rights from FIFA, football associations, sponsors and companies seeking to profit from the World Cup.
We have documented too many labour abuses of migrant workers in Qatar at the previous World Cup, and there is nothing to indicate that Saudi Arabia will be any better. Saudi Arabia must be held to account for all of its human rights violations, and if it really wants to welcome people to the country for sporting events, then all those imprisoned for their peaceful human rights activities must be freed, including human rights defenders languishing in prison for decades.Khalid Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)
We, the migrant workers, endure severe exploitation, and our vulnerability is often overlooked. Our lives matter - we fear for the lives of thousands of our migrant brothers and sisters who are at risk. FIFA must not turn a blind eye; the lives of migrants demand accountability and justice.Bhim Shrestha, Co-founder of Shramik Sanjal, a worker-led network of migrant workers based in Nepal