By Sarah Akbar
A FIFA-commissioned
report undertaken by Harvard professor John Ruggie and released on
April 14 urges soccer’s international governing body to ensure the protection
of human rights or consider moving the 2022 World Cup from Qatar. Ruggie, who
has created
business and human rights guiding principles for the United Nations,
noted numerous human rights violations surrounding the construction of new
Qatari stadiums and made a series of recommendations on how FIFA should
proceed. In particular, Ruggie proposes FIFA leverage its influence to press
countries to improve human rights conditions or face losing their hosting
privileges. FIFA officials, including President, Gianni Infantino, have
responded positively to the report, and have vowed to use it as a guide to
formulate its human rights policy.
By Jeff Najjar
The FIFA scandal
is not unique in international sports corruption. For example, the leadership of the FIVB—which
oversees international volleyball—has faced years of corruption allegations.
Additionally, the International Wrestling Federation (IWF) and the organizations that govern
international handball and cycling have faced similar
allegations of corruption. Although international efforts to combat corruption
have made substantial progress, international sports bodies reside within a global governance void that falls outside the scope of current
international anti-corruption regimes.
By Jeff Najjar
“Futbol,”
“football,” or “soccer,” is known throughout the world as the “beautiful game.”
Indeed, one of the trademark phrases
about the world’s most popular sport is the Portuguese phrase joga bonito—meaning,
“play beautifully.” However, the
Federation Internationale de Football Association (“FIFA”)—football’s world
governing body—presents a stark contrast to notions of joga bonito amidst a
widespread corruption scandal that dates back several decades.
FIFA is one of
the most significant international organizations and makes billions of dollars
in revenue from organizing the World Cup—the world’s most popular sporting
event. The World Cup is big business.
For example, it is estimated that Brazil spent
$4 billion dollars to host the 2014 World Cup.
FIFA received more than $2 billion from the tournament in sponsorship
money and the sale of broadcasting rights and merchandise.
