Overview
- A 30-page complaint filed by international lawyers, including FIFA’s former anti-corruption adviser, accuses the organization of ignoring its own human rights policy in awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia.
- The complaint highlights ongoing abuses in Saudi Arabia, including violations of freedom of expression, arbitrary detention, mistreatment of migrant workers, and women's rights restrictions.
- FIFA’s 2017 human rights policy requires World Cup hosts to adhere to UN principles, but the complaint alleges FIFA has taken no concrete steps to enforce these standards in Saudi Arabia.
- Human Rights Watch and FairSquare reports detail risks and exploitation faced by migrant workers in Saudi Arabia’s massive World Cup construction projects.
- FIFA has reiterated its commitment to worker protections and collaboration with Saudi authorities, but critics demand transparent action plans and independent monitoring mechanisms.