What is the first World Cup in history in the Middle East has sparked numerous controversies and protests by various social agents, from the environmental perspective and also in terms of human rights.
Euskaraz irakurri: Historiako Munduko Soccer Txapelketa polemikoena hasi da
This Sunday the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup took place at the Qatari stadium Al Bayt Al Khor, scene of the first match between the host team and Ecuador. The tournament will last for four weeks, until December 18.
What is the first World Cup in history in the Middle East has sparked many controversies and protests by various social agents, from the environmental point of view and also in terms of human rights.
The opening ceremony was attended, in addition to the top leaders of world football headed by the Swiss Gianni Infantino, personalities such as the presidents of Turkey, Refecep Tayyip ErdoganEgypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sissiof the Palestinian national authority, Mahmud Abbasthe crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salmanand the executive vice president of Venezuela, delcy rodriguez.
The actor Morgan Freemanwho played an important role at the start, has assured that “soccer goes around the world and that which unites nations also unites communities”.
For his part, the singer Jung Kooka member of the South Korean group BTS, has performed “Dreamers”, a song included in the official soundtrack of the World Cup, together with the Qatari singer fahad al kubaisiwhich also supposes, according to the organizers, a call to the unity of “all humanity, bridging the differences through humanism, respect and inclusion”.
Activists in Paris: “FIFA kills”
A group of activists has hung a banner with the text “FIFA kills. World Cup 2022: 6,500 dead” for brief minutes on the Pont des Arts, one of the most famous bridges that span the Seine River in Paris, in protest against the thousands of immigrant workers who died in Qatar to build the World Cup.
The authorship of this ephemeral act of protest corresponds to the French collective of “Les Dégommeuses”, which presents itself as a football team made up mainly of lesbians and trans people whose goal is to fight against discrimination.
The few minutes in which the banner has been visible -16 meters long by 4 meters high- have served to attract the attention of some passers-by and tourists. The activists have also lit red and green flares.
Banner on the Pont des Arts. Photo: EFE
In addition, the groups “Le bruit qui court”, “Carton rouge Qatar” and “Fridays for future” have approached the Place de la République in Paris and have climbed to dress the female statue that symbolizes the French Republic, to the one that they have dressed in a t-shirt with the motto “Qatar is full of death”.
Around the statue, several punctured soccer balls were intended to embody the lives lost to build the World Cup facilities in Qatar.
Activists protest in the Place de la République in Paris. Photo: EFE
Also in Germany The boycott movement against the World Cup has gained strength. More than half of the Germans affirm that they will not watch the matches and many bars have decided not to broadcast the competition as a sign of denouncing the violation of human rights in the country that is hosting the World Cup.
Source: Eitb
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