Socceroos protest against World Cup host Qatar

2 years ago 71

The Socceroos person go the archetypal squad astatine the FIFA World Cup to merchandise a corporate connection of protestation against Qatar's quality rights record.

The video message was performed by 16 players and called for "effective remedy" for migrant workers and a alteration successful laws regarding same-sex relationships.

Football Australia besides released a statement, saying the plight of migrant workers "cannot beryllium ignored".

The 16 Australian players progressive successful the video are: skipper Mat Ryan, Bailey Wright, Jamie Maclaren, Nick D'Agostino, Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin, Danny Vukovic, Andrew Redmayne, Mathew Leckie, Mitchell Duke, Mitch Langerak, Denis Genreau, Cameron Devlin, Adam Taggart, Kye Rowles and Alex Wilkinson.

In the statement, the players accidental they recognise Qatar has enactment successful spot immoderate important reforms improving conditions and labour rights since being awarded the World Cup hosting rights.

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That includes doing distant with a strategy that allows employers to instrumentality distant workers' passports and artifact them from leaving the country.

However, they assertion the implementation of these reforms has been inconsistent.

"Addressing these issues is not easy. And we bash not person each the answers," the players said.

"We basal with FIFPro, the Building and Wood Workers International, and the International Trade Union Confederation, seeking to embed reforms and found a lasting bequest successful Qatar. This indispensable see establishing a migrant assets centre, effectual remedy for those who person been denied their rights, and the decriminalisation of each same-sex relationships. These are the basal rights that should beryllium afforded to each and volition guarantee continued advancement successful Qatar ... [and] a bequest that goes good beyond the last whistle of the 2022 FIFA World Cup."

Football Australia, besides acknowledged the caller legislative reforms successful Qatar but backed the players' telephone to support the rights of workers beyond the World Cup, and besides urged for semipermanent alteration to the country's views connected homosexuality.

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"As the astir multicultural, diverse, and inclusive athletics successful our country, we judge everyone should beryllium capable to consciousness harmless and beryllium their existent authentic selves," FA's connection said. "Whilst we admit the highest levels of assurances fixed by HH Amir of Qatar and the President of FIFA that LGBTI+ fans volition beryllium safely welcomed successful Qatar, we anticipation that this openness tin proceed beyond the tournament."

The connection from Football Australia was unexpected according to shot insiders, particularly since it is preparing to bid to big the FIFA World Cup successful 2034. Some thought the game's leaders would enactment soundless successful a governmental move.

Denmark, Australia's Group D opponents, volition deterioration single-colour "protest" jerseys and players from 9 European countries, including England, person besides committed to wearing "One Love" armbands.

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