FIFA requests that countries “focus on football” in Qatar

• FIFA has written to World Cup teams urging them to concentrate on the football in Qatar
• Beginning on November 20, the first World Cup to be contested in the Middle East
• World Cup has given the nation a chance to advance worker rights

According to reports in British media on Thursday, FIFA has written to World Cup teams urging them to concentrate on the football in Qatar and avoid allowing the game to be pulled into ideological or political “battles.”

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, and Fatma Samoura, the secretary general of the organization, wrote the letter in response to a number of World Cup teams’ grievances on matters ranging from LGBTIQ rights to worries over the treatment of migrant workers.

“Please, let’s now focus on the football!”  Infantino and Samoura were quoted by Sky News as having said in the letter to the 32 World Cup participating countries.

“We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world.

“But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.”

When approached by Reuters, FIFA was unable to respond with an instant remark. Beginning on November 20, the first World Cup to be contested in the Middle East.

Last week, the Australian soccer squad spoke out against Qatar’s human rights and same-sex partnership policies. The Danish FA (DBU) informed local media last month that the players from Denmark would not be going to the World Cup with their families as a show of protest against the nation’s human rights record.

On Friday, the FIFA letter was the subject of no quick comment from Football Australia to Reuters. The DBU was contacted by Reuters as well for comment.

While stating that everyone is welcome regardless of sexual orientation or origin, the World Cup organizers have also cautioned against public displays of affection. Although Qatar has acknowledged that its labor system has “gaps,” the World Cup has given the nation a chance to advance worker rights.

According to Sky, Infantino stated in the letter that “At FIFA, we try to respect all opinions and beliefs, without handing out moral lessons to the rest of the world,”

“One of the great strengths of the world is indeed its very diversity, and if inclusion means anything, it means having respect for that diversity. No one people or culture or nation is ‘better’ than any other.

“This principle is the very foundation stone of mutual respect and non-discrimination. And this is also one of the core values of football. So, please let’s all remember that and let football take center stage.”

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