#fifa2020

LGBT+ and FIFA’s questionable relationship with the community

“FIFA claims that football can unite the world… anti-LGBT+ policies don’t.” -Human Rights Watch. The last decade has been a staple for LGBT+ activism, but we are also seeing an unsettling uprise in crime against LGBT+ people. 1 out of 3 gay men do not feel safe in their homes. Mexico is reporting its deadliest year for LGBT+ individuals. Then FIFA- Federation of International Football Association- decided to let a notoriously homophobic country host the biggest sporting event in the world: Russia 2018. FIFA not only contributes to prejudice against the LGBT+ people, but they also continuously promote that they are a “safe space” for people who identify as such. Not surprisingly they are abysmal when it comes to protecting the rights for LGBT+ people. I propose that FIFA bans countries from hosting events where it is unsafe or illegal to exist as a LGBT+ person.

Some might argue that if FIFA bans countries that do not support LGBT+ rights from hosting events, then we are denying the people of that country the opportunity to go to one of the best sporting events of our time. Preposterous; we need to value the players and the people’s rights more than an unsafe football event. Some other people might argue that by banning a country which is unsafe for LGBT+ people, that the country is missing out in a great source of income. Disgusting to think anyone could value money over people’s basic human rights. None of these could be a plausible argument, and no compassionate being would agree with these viewpoints.

By FIFA supporting these countries, they are only enabling the suffering of many LGBT+ individuals and supporting countries that brake human rights. The most recent World Cup has, or will, be hosted in countries with appalling human rights: in Russia, if you are an LGBT+ individual, your name could be put on a murder site, promoted itself as a welcoming space for LGBT+ fans during the tournament. Qatar a country known for censoring LGBT+ media since 2018 and has a three-year prison sentence for LGBT+ people, said, “any fan, of any gender, [sexual] orientation, religion, race, [should] rest assured that Qatar is one of the most [safest] countries in the world — and they’ll all be welcome here.”- the Chief executive of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser al-Khater. Nobody can take away your human rights – article 30, the following rights that have been routinely taken away from marginalised individuals such as LGBT+ people. Article 14 – Protection from discrimination. According to equaldex.com, there is no protection of LGBT+ individuals agents’ discrimination in Russia and Qatar. Article 16, in both Qatar and Russia its illegal for LGBT+ people to get married. Article 2– the right to life, on April the 17th 2017 the Russian state of Chechnya started a mass prosecution of gay men at least 40 people were detained, and 2 people were killed by gunshots to the back of the head. as a reminder, we are at the most advanced time in technology and civilisation in history, but there are still more than 75 countries where homosexuality is illegal. More than 30% of are UN member states. It is not a shocker to see that FIFA is turning a blind eye to Russia’s and Qatar’s human rights standards. Even in Brazil when fans where shouting gay slurs at an opposition team member, it took them some time to launch an investigation on the incident. Then, out of nowhere they dropped all charges. FIFA needs to step up and kick the ball out of the field and unite everyone over football, like they claim they can. By scoring countries not safe for LGBT+ fans off the list, that will be a step forward.

Moreover, FIFA fails to properly ensure the safety of LGBT+ individuals at their games. It was not very surprising to see that a gay man, O. Davrius, was beaten up in the heat of Russia 2018 at Moscow, when he was going to catch a taxi with his boyfriend. Before he could get into that taxi, he and his boyfriend were beaten up by a group of Russian men who left him with a brain injury and a broken jaw. This is all but one of the incidents in FIFA’s lousy track record of ‘keeping LGBT+ fans safe’. In fact, also in Russia 2018, a safe space was shut down just a day before its expected opening, and FIFA did not even bother to get off their backsides and launch an investigation into the incident. An organiser of the safe space said to the BBC "[the landowners] asked us to leave the place very rudely, switched off the electricity and explained nothing to us,” Why is FIFA rewarding this behaviour with hosting rights to a so-called progressive tournament? It is like if one player decided to discreetly punch the opposition team member in the face. FIFA is that dreadful referee that cannot see that. Or to put it simply, maybe that referee has been paid off. FIFA must not hesitate in making their tournament safer for all fans and athletes including LGBT+ ones. It is a no brainer FIFA: ban those countries for even being on the list as a possible hosting location.

Furthermore, by FIFA choosing homophobic venues, they are impacting on LGBT+ athletes mental and physical health. FIFA’s male world cups already promote a hyper-masculine and a homophobic culture, so it is no surprise that they would choose a homophobic hosting location as well. It is a known fact your mental health can impact your physical health A quote form psychology today estimates that “20 to 25 percent of LGBT+ people experience criminal victimization because of their adult sexual orientation” that jumps up to a staggering “42 percent” in the workplace. An effect of homophobia is an increased chance of suicide and heart disease - - Huffington post. When a male LGBT+ athlete that must be subjected to homophobic rhetoric because they must go to a country like Russia or Qatar to play for their team, it can be overwhelming. Being an athlete comes with an extreme physical demand and if you are LGBT+ you will be scared for your life. The anxiety that comes with playing big football games, wondering if it will be safe to go outside or to kiss your partner is all too overwhelming for LGBT+ athletes. Athletes in the top tiers like FIFA should only have one concern: to be in the best shape physically and mentally so they can play their best. Add staying in a homophobic country for a full tournament? You have got a recipe for disaster. FIFA should not be actively participating in destroying LGBT+ athletes mental and physical health, just for monetary gain. This also impacts FIFA’s earnings. If you were attending an event and were to see your beloved football team being decimated- due to some athletes being in a homophobic country and that wanes on their health- you would seriously reconsider supporting your current team. If you would want to see people being sub-par at football, then you would go to your local park. Why pay money to support a kid’s football team? Forcing LGBT+ athletes to play in a homophobic country will make FIFA lose money, and a simple way to solve this would be to eliminate the possibility of homophobic countries being chosen to host the world cup.

In conclusion, we need to pressure FIFA in to support LGBT+ peoples rights; we need to pressure FIFA in to putting in more precautions to keep LGBT+ people safe, we need to pressure FIFA into removing unsuitable and hostile countries, we also need to consider if their ideals make it unsafe for LGBT+ people to attend and participate at these venues. Saying it plainly and straight to the point, this must be done for the good of all people. [insert witty remark here]