November 4, 2022
The brief from today:
FIFA’s letter to teams sparks debate
World football’s governing body, FIFA, sent a letter today to all 32 teams participating in the World Cup. The subject of the correspondence centered on the host nation Qatar, and the controversy surrounding the human rights issues in the country. Since the Gulf nation was awarded hosting rights, there has been a steady barrage of negative news, which they have had to defend themselves against for a number of years. The migrant workers that have essentially built the entire infrastructure for the World Cup including: stadiums and fan parks, have endured difficult working conditions along the way. Reports of deaths related to working in extreme heat for extended periods have drawn a major focus to this issue in particular. In addition to that, the level of compensation they are receiving for their efforts is said to be massively undervalued, and there have even been numerous cases of lack of pay for services rendered. In addition to that, Qatar’s prohibition of homosexuality has drawn many detractors who have taken issue with the local laws on this subject. Women’s rights is another hot topic that has caused many to protest the current state of affairs within the small country. Aware of all this, FIFA has reached out to the teams to specifically tell them that they shouldn’t get involved in political issues, and that they aren’t the appropriate entities to discuss the present situation in Qatar. Instead, they have been requested to simply focus on football with the tournament set to commence on November 20.
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, was one of the authors of the letter sent to World Cup teams
Kenya looks to get ban lifted
Earlier this week, Tunisia was warned by FIFA that political interference from their Sports Minister with the Tunisian FA could potentially cost them their place in the World Cup. It is a well known matter that FIFA is constantly on the lookout for undue pressure, influence, and/or involvement from government entities with football associations. For incidents where this occurs, FIFA is swift at doling out suspensions from tournaments until clear separation is proven. This year alone, before the Tunisia warning, India, Zimbabwe, and Kenya were all been suspended from FIFA sanctioned football due to elements of their respective governments’ involvement with the football associations. India had their status reinstated earlier this year, and now Kenya are appealing for their ban to be lifted as well. The original issue stems from November 2021 when Kenya’s sports ministry dissolved the Kenyan Football Federation due to corruption. FIFA was far from pleased with this interference, and promptly banned Kenya from participating in any official football matches. Since then, the former Vice President of the Kenyan Football Federation, as well the general secretary, have been place back in their original positions. Considering those were moves that FIFA set as conditions for the ban to be lifted, Kenya now feels they are within their rights to request a reinstatement. Kenya will now be hoping for a swift return considering the ban has already impeded the men’s and women’s team from playing in 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Kenya’s players (in red) will be hoping to get back on the pitch sooner than later