Qatar 2022: Norway rules out boycott of the FIFA World Cup | Football news
Delegates to the extraordinary congress convened by the Norwegian Football Association vote for a motion rejecting the boycott of the event.
The Norwegian football federation has ruled out boycotting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar despite pressure from its grassroots following accusations of human rights violations against migrant workers in the Gulf state.
At an extraordinary congress called by the Norwegian Football Association (NFF) on Sunday, 368 delegates voted for a motion rejecting a boycott while 121 were in favor.
As the vote draws near, Ole Kristian Sandvik, spokesperson for the Norwegian Fan Alliance (NSA), said matches in Qatar will be “sadly like playing in a cemetery”, a term commonly used by opponents of the participation of Norway.
Norway have not qualified for a major international competition since Euro 2000 and are currently fourth in their World Cup qualifying group.
So while qualifying seems a daunting task, the outcome of the vote could have had an impact on Norway‘s pursuit of qualifying matches.
The movement calling for a boycott started when the Tromso IL club took the floor in February.
“We can no longer sit and watch people die in the name of football,” said the Premier League club.
Tom Hogli, footballer turned public relations manager for Tromso IL, told AFP news agency: “There is no doubt that this World Cup should never have been attributed to Qatar. Conditions are appalling and many have lost their lives.
Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record has been in the spotlight since it received the hosting of the tournament in 2010.
The country said it has carried out several labor reforms ahead of the mega event that will take place in November and December of next year.
In August last year, Qatar announced significant changes to labor laws, including the removal of the need for a “no-objection certificate” – an employer’s permission to change jobs. . Earlier this year, a new minimum wage law was also introduced.
In a poll published by the VG newspaper last week, nearly half of Norwegians (49%) are in favor of a boycott, while only 29% are against it.
Feeling the pressure of the field campaigns, the NFF referred the matter to an extraordinary congress which gathered on Sunday its executive committee of eight members and representatives of 18 districts and hundreds of professional and amateur clubs.
Discussions revolved around the findings of a panel of experts who, with the exception of two members representing the fans, had already spoken out against a boycott.
Rather than a boycott, the committee recommended 26 measures to consolidate and deepen the gains made in Qatar.
The Norwegian national team has already protested against conditions in Qatar but did not call for a boycott.
Before the last games, Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard and their teammates wore t-shirts with slogans like “HUMAN RIGHTS on and off the pitch”.
FIFA maintains that the attribution of the organization of the World Cup to Qatar has opened the door to social progress.
“We know there is still work to be done, but we must recognize the significant progress made in a very short period of time,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in May.