Norwegian club Tromsø IL launches QR code t-shirt to protest human rights in Qatar

The Norwegian club Tromsø IL presented this Monday “the first soccer jersey with a QR code in the world”, an initiative that seeks to talk about human rights in Qatar before the World Cup.

The result of a cooperation with Amnesty International, the shirt contains the characteristic geometric shapes that, once scanned, are sent to a site that deals with human rights and “sportswashing”, the whitewashing of a country’s image thanks to the organization of sports events.

“Through this, we hope to stimulate first conversations and then more debates. We want more events, ”declared Tom Hogli, former professional player turned public relations manager for Tromsø IL, at the presentation of the jersey.

The first division team will wear this unique shirt on Sunday against Viking, in the final game of the championship, before the winter break.

Tromsø claims that in February it was the first professional football club in the world to call for a boycott of the Qatar World Cup to protest against the conditions of migrant workers in the emirate.

Amnesty International calls for answers on deaths of migrant workers in Qatar during preparations for World Cup 2022

The Arab country vigorously rejects these criticisms, noting that it has reformed its labor law and introduced a minimum wage.

The idea of ​​a boycott caught on in Norway, but a vote within the national federation finally ruled out this eventuality in June. On the field, the Norwegian team failed to qualify.

Recognizing the reforms introduced, Amnesty International had last month urged Qatar to stop abuses against immigrant workers, who have worked in the great works of the World Cup. (D)