Australia players union condemns FIFA after it awards 2034 World Cup bid to Saudi Arabia
The HinduAustralia’s professional football players union has condemned the awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia, saying significant human rights risks are attached to the tournament while questioning FIFA’s ability to prevent harm from occurring. “By securing hosting rights to the global game’s most prestigious event, Saudi Arabia and FIFA must ensure the rights of everyone affected by the 2034 Men’s World Cup are upheld and safeguarded. Australia’s players were critical of 2022 World Cup host Qatar, with the men’s team releasing a video calling out the Gulf state’s record on human rights and same-sex relationships. “Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a strong commitment to hosting a world-class tournament and we remain confident in FIFA’s frameworks and the FIFA World Cup’s capacity for positive change,” FA said in a statement to Reuters.