‘Increasing the risk of human rights violations’ - Norway’s hard stance after FIFA awards 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia

It seems like FIFA’s decision to award the 2034 World Cup hosting to Saudi Arabia hasn’t gone well with all the football-playing nations. On Wednesday, FIFA confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup. Meanwhile, the Football Federation of Norway has come ahead in an agitated tone while responding to this decision.

Norway went on to say that FIFA’s actions hasn’t been very impressive and effective in avoiding the violations of the human rights with context to this tournament. Norway has also decided to keep itself away from approving this decision taken by the apex federation of football in the world.

FIFA's approval without an itemized vote does not align with the principles - Norway Football Federation President

“Fifa's own guidelines for human rights and due diligence have also not been adequately integrated into the process, increasing the risk of human rights violations,” said Norway Federation President Lise Klaveness in an official statement released on Tuesday.

“(Wednesday's) vote is not about who gets the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, that has already been decided. FIFA's approval without an itemized vote does not align with the principles of a sound and predictable governance system,” he added later.

The questions arising on FIFA’s decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia find their grounds in the concern of utilizing migrant labour in the construction of stadiums, hotels and transport. A similar concern was raised last time after some challenges and fatalities the workers encountered in Qatar while the preparations were underway for the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Norway Football Federation’s Klaveness was also one of the frontrunners to criticize and pressure FIFA and Qatar before the commencement of the prestigious football quadrennial. 
Now, it will be a big question to find an answer, if the other full-time football-playing members of FIFA will join Norway in this protest for the ‘sake of human rights protection.’