Former captain of the Socceroos, Craig Foster, has expressed concerns that players have been cautioned against discussing political matters as the FIFA World Cup approaches. Several athletes, including members of the Socceroos, had previously voiced their criticism of Qatar’s human rights record leading up to the 2022 tournament.
The upcoming FIFA World Cup will take place from June 12 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Foster highlighted a “chilling” atmosphere surrounding players, who fear that speaking out about human rights violations could jeopardize their chances of participating in the tournament.
As the tournament draws nearer, issues related to human rights and geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning the U.S. immigration policies and Iran’s involvement in the event, are gaining attention. Last month, Socceroos player Jackson Irvine attracted global media coverage by condemning FIFA’s decision to award its first Peace Prize to former U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that it undermined FIFA’s human rights commitments.
In contrast to previous instances where the Socceroos criticized Qatar’s human rights issues through a video campaign, there has been a noticeable absence of statements from athletes across the 48 participating teams. Foster remarked on the rarity of such expressions, attributing it to the players’ understanding of the potential consequences of speaking out.
During a media briefing organized by the Sports & Rights Alliance and Human Rights Watch, Foster elaborated on the climate of fear affecting players in the U.S. He mentioned that athletes are likely self-censoring, concerned for the safety of their loved ones and the possibility of their fans facing racial profiling by immigration enforcement.
Foster noted, “There has indeed been a significant chilling effect on players’ voices regarding human rights issues and international law violations, especially with the World Cup taking place in the U.S. Many players recognize that speaking out could jeopardize their ability to attend the tournament.”
Rudi Voeller, the football director for Germany, recently advised team members to refrain from making political statements during the World Cup. Foster acknowledged that players and teams would have received prior warnings about the severe risks associated with expressing political views.
He compared the current situation to the previous World Cup in Qatar, emphasizing the heightened risks athletes now face, including the possibility of being expelled from the country or publicly attacked by governmental figures. “Players are aware of the pressure and potential negative repercussions of making statements,” he said.
Foster also referenced obstacles faced by Iran regarding their participation, including relocating their training camp from Arizona to Mexico following military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. He mentioned Swiss player Breel Embolo, who was denied an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and is currently seeking an urgent visa to travel to the U.S.
Foster expressed disbelief that fans from certain countries might not be able to attend the tournament and raised alarms about the safety of players and officials who may feel restricted in expressing their opinions or even attending the event at all. “This tournament presents risks for players, fans, and officials alike, and it is disgraceful for a sport that has claimed to uphold human rights for nearly a decade,” he stated.
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