Australian players call out Qatar's human rights record before FIFA World Cup
Australia's national soccer squad added to the criticism of World Cup host Qatar in a video released on Thursday by speaking out against the nation's record on same-sex couples and human rights.
Intense worldwide pressure has been placed on Qatar, the first Middle Eastern nation to host the World Cup, because of how it treats foreign workers and its stringent social restrictions. The film, which featured multiple actors reading a message aloud, mentioned harm to Qatar's 1.6 million migrant workers as well as the status of same-sex relationships, which are forbidden in the conservative gulf state.
Jackson Irvine, a midfielder for the team, stated: "We have learnt that the choice to have the World Cup in Qatar has caused the agony and harm of numerous of our fellow workers." Denis Genreau, a fellow midfielder, remarked, "In Qatar, people are not free to love the person that they choose. As footballers, we absolutely support the rights of LGBTI+ people.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, stated on Tuesday that while some criticism was beneficial, it also contained lies and applied different standards to different people. The Socceroos acknowledged current measures but called for more, including a centre for resources for migrants, redress for those denied rights, and the decriminalisation of all relationships involving the same sex.
Soccer's governing body in Australia, Football Australia, recognised adjustments in a separate statement on Thursday, but claimed some migrant workers and their families had suffered because of the games. Concerns about the nation's record on human rights have prompted calls for teams and officials to skip the events. Despite a vote in the house that urged it not participate, the Dutch government said last week that it would send a delegation.
Players showed their support for the International Trade Union Confederation, the Building and Woodworkers International, and the professional players' union, FIFPRO. After the World Cup begins on November 20, Australia will face France, Denmark, and Tunisia.
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