On Monday, Amnesty International (AI) felt that FIFA should “take proactive action” to protect LGBTQ+ people instead of threatening sanctions against football players who defend the cause.
“(FIFA) must not only promote equality, but also take active steps to ensure the protection of LGBTQ+ people,” said Steve Cockburn, director of economic and social justice at Amnesty International.
Regarding FIFA threats to players and national teams for intending to wear “One Love” armbands, a message of support for the LGBTQ+ community, with the AI understanding that the body that governs world football is incapable of protecting human rights. and equality.
On Monday, FIFA said it would be promoting the No Discrimination campaign planned for the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals to allow 32 national team captains to wear the armband during the tournament.
The supreme body of world football anticipated his intention by clarifying that it was in line with FIFA’s equipment rules, which stipulate that each captain will wear his approved armband.
The armband controversy gained urgency when seven European federations, which did not include the Portuguese, united to use an armband with the words “One Love” (one love), hinting at equality, but FIFA warned that this was impossible, even talking about sanctions.
“Last-minute threats to punish players for using human rights and equality messaging is the latest example of FIFA failing to fully uphold its own values and responsibilities, which FIFA should lead, not suppress,” the head of AI criticized. .
Likewise, it reinforced the idea that agreements on armbands and better protection for LGBTQ+ communities “should have been reached a long time ago.”
“We applaud the courage of teams and players who have spoken out about human rights and hope they continue to do so. Fans, players and associations want football to be a vehicle for promoting human rights and FIFA needs to listen to that. appeals quickly,” he stressed.
England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland have exempted their captains from wearing the armband, given the possibility of punishment, but said they were “disappointed” by the inflexibility shown by FIFA.
Steve Cockburn also left the floor to the migrant workers “who made the tournament possible”, reminding them that they “should be fully compensated for the untold violence they have endured”.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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