Focus on Football

Shortly before the 2022 World Cup began in Qatar, FIFA’s General Secretary urged the competing nations to ‘focus on football’ and to refrain from entering ‘every ideological or political battle.’ Yet Gary Lineker opened BBC One’s coverage of the first match with a blistering monologue on the host nation:

“It’s the most controversial World Cup in history and a ball hasn’t even been kicked… from accusations of corruption in the bidding process, to the treatment of migrant workers who built the stadiums, where many lost their lives. Homosexuality is illegal here; women’s rights and freedom of expression are in the spotlight.”

The programme, which was prepared with support from Amnesty International, was slammed by the Mail Online for ‘virtue-signalling.’ Given the money that Lineker will earn presenting from the tournament, it was perhaps inevitable that he would face accusations of hypocrisy. Yet Lineker maintains that going to Qatar is the right decision, telling the News Agents podcast that he will be “reporting, not supporting… sportswashing only works if you stop talking about the issues.”

‘Sportswashing’ is described as ‘using an association with sport… to improve a tarnished moral reputation acquired through being a perpetrator of injustice’ (Fruh, Archer & Wojtowicz 2022). Alongside corruption allegations, Qatar has faced international criticism for its actions relating to migrant workers, women’s rights, sexual orientation laws and freedom of expression. While a full analysis of these issues is beyond the scope of this article, an excellent review is provided by Human Rights Watch. However, I would like to highlight two matters. First, over 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar since preparations for the World Cup began (although The Guardian estimates the actual number may be much higher). Second, Carbon Market Watch has found that the climate impact of the event has been vastly underestimated.

Like Russia in 2018, Qatar should not have been allowed to attempt to gain legitimacy through hosting the World Cup. It is also wrong to believe that the tournament could be a means of leading states which breach human rights ‘to the light’ of Western democracy. But is Lineker really being hypocritical for reporting from Qatar? Critics often tell football commentors not to stray into politics – but will also lambast them if they choose not to speak out when it is politically expedient. As the tournament progresses, it has become clear that the attention of the global media will never simply ‘focus on the football’. Sports and politics are inextricably interwoven. There is nothing to be gained from shying away from serious geopolitical issues – rather, there is a need for accurate and fair coverage.

Lineker will be working solely for the BBC, and publicly declined to host the final World Cup draw in Doha. This is markedly different from Gary Neville, who will be reporting for both ITV and Qatari state broadcaster beIN Sports. Neville justified his position on Have I got News For You, saying “you either highlight the issues and challenges in these countries, and speak about them, or you basically don’t say anything and stay back home.” Panellist (and Private Eye editor) Ian Hislop responded “you don’t have to go and take the Qataris’ money… It’s just not a very good defence,” suggesting that Neville is misrepresenting what is a fundamentally commercial decision.

On the other hand, it is challenging to draw the boundaries of moral condemnation. Much of the reporting on Qatar has ascribed an unrealistic level of human rights protection to other FIFA Members. It is worth noting that 8 out of the 32 countries at the 2022 World Cup group stage currently impose custodial sentences or capital punishment for same-sex relations. The Qatari state also owns more than £40bn of British assets, and has stakes in well-known brands such as Sainsbury’s, Barclays Bank and British Airways. But perhaps the global reach of Qatari funds explain why some broadcasters (notably, FOX Sports) have treated the host’s human rights record as ancillary. In contrast to the BBC, the network’s World Cup opening programme featured the founder of ILoveQatar.net and a segment called ‘Exploring Qatar.’ State-owned Qatar Airways, Visit Qatar and The Qatar Foundation will all be major sponsors of FOX’s coverage.

Ever since FIFA handed the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, difficult questions have been raised about what democracies should do when international competitions are granted on the basis of corruption. Broadcasters who do not ask important questions of Qatar, or who enter into commercial relations with the state, are giving tacit acceptance to a barrage of human rights violations. As Gary Lineker closed his opening monologue, “’Stick to football’ say FIFA – well, we will. For a couple of minutes, at least.”