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FIFA should have foreseen Qatar World Cup shemozzle

The largest international sporting event ever held in a Muslim country has shone a spotlight it seems both the host nation and the organising body are finding far too bright. But what did they expect?

2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has been mired in controversy since the tiny nation was awarded the event, and has continued as the tournament has gotten underway.

The FIFA World Cup currently under way in Qatar is the biggest international sporting event to ever be held in a Muslim country – and as always comes with such hosting duties, a bright spotlight has been on shone onto the small desert nation.

And the glare has been bright, especially regarding Qatar’s human rights record and treatment of LGBTQIA+ people.

Many fans and media members have sought to show support for diversity and inclusivity by wearing rainbow colours - synonymous with the LGBTQIA+ community.

The brand is no longer just about the identity of the wearer, but the lending of support by those who believe in LGBTQIA+ inclusivity.

“But there have been regular reports of this support being met with hostility in a country with a strict list of dos and don’ts, a reflection of the collective identities of Qataris, their values, traditions, and beliefs.

Symbols such as the rainbow flag represent pride in societies where the LGBTQIA+ are not persecuted, however, they may be viewed differently elsewhere.

One reason provided for the removal of everything rainbow is the unknown element of prejudice and intolerance from fans, who might act out and pose a security risk.

This might justify the censoring of ‘inharmonious’ beliefs, or a clash of cultures, albeit taking the side of the host nation.

Dr Nayef Nahar Al-Shamari, the director of the Ibn Khaldon Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences at Qatar University, tweeted that ‘values aren’t universal’ and ‘cultures with different values should be equally respected’.

How Qatar views the representation of the rainbow flag is different from that of the Western nations – highlighting cultural concerns when the issue is considered taboo and illegal in the host nation.

Locals may see the sign as an outright rebellion against traditional gender roles, that foreigners are trying to instil change to their nation, forcing their beliefs, and making them feel oppressed in their own home country.

If these signs have always been illegal, visitors flaunting them against the host nation’s law and practice will not be tolerated.

Dr Kelly Choong.
Dr Kelly Choong.

Perhaps Qatari decision makers underestimated how the average Qatari would react; maybe using this line of “protection” is an easy excuse so Qatar can maintain the same laws, protocols, and control it always has?

Regardless, there seems to have been disconnect between FIFA and Qatar all along over what would and wouldn’t be allowed.

FIFA previously assured fans Qatar would allow rainbow flags - among other concessions - at the World Cup as part of the FIFA’s rule of promoting inclusivity and tolerance.

In addition to reneging on the rainbow colours among fans, FIFA banned a rainbow-themed OneLove armband and threated any player wearing one with a yellow card.

It also backflipped on the sale and consumption of alcohol in stadiums just 48 hours before the tournament began.

But one may ask – what did FIFA expect?

Deaths of foreign indentured labour associated with the construction of stadiums have been well reported, as has the potential environmental impact of building - and then cooling – many brand-new stadiums.

Not to mention, soccer purists being disgruntled with the tournament interrupting domestic leagues due to moving the tournament to the latter part of the calendar year seeking cooler temperatures.

These were all red flags, perhaps red cards, FIFA should have taken a serious look at.

Why did FIFA award the tournament to a nation who seems ill-prepared for the spotlight to shine so brightly on its customs and perceived shortcomings?

And why did Qatar want to play host to an event knowing there will be an influx of visitors with different beliefs, behaviours, and values, when they can’t even pretend to be inclusive and tolerant for four weeks?

For FIFA, it made its bed when it awarded Qatar the tournament in 2010, a process where the US Department of Justice says FIFA officials were bribed.

For an organisation pushing for inclusiveness and tolerance, FIFA is coming across as genuine and authentic as a meat-eating vegan.

In hindsight, perhaps FIFA was too optimistic and naïve in their need for inclusiveness of a Muslim host nation and forgot that it is acceptance that they should be focusing on.

It is all fine and dandy for FIFA to boldly outline their position on inclusivity and the unequivocal protection of human rights for the world to see, however the moment they start inserting ifs and buts, all bets are off.

And for that, the 2022 FIFA World Cup may well be remembered as the event at which love did not conquer all.

Dr Kelly Choong is a senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University.

This article was originally published in The West Australian.


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