Lib Dems attack Saudi sportswashing after World Cup award

Scottish Liberal Democrat sports spokesperson Neil Alexander has today criticised the decision to award the 2034 football World Cup to Saudi Arabia and called on the UK and Scottish Governments to redouble efforts to raise human rights concerns in the country.

Human Rights Watch warn that scores of human rights activists and dissidents are in prison or on trial for their peaceful criticism. The country has faced international condemnation for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, while the Saudi and UAE led coalition has killed thousands of civilians as part of their military campaign in Yemen.

The organisation also warned this week that global football governing body FIFA had broken its own human rights rules in announcing a plan for hosting the next two men’s World Cups that effectively eliminated bidding and human rights due diligence.

Mr Alexander said:

“Hosting the World Cup in Saudi Arabia is yet another exercise in sportswashing for a brutal regime.

“FIFA are utterly without scruple about partnering with vicious murderers and human rights abusers.

“Awarding previous World Cups to Qatar and Russia has utterly failed to lead to any meaningful progress on human rights and individual liberties. I expect no different this time.

“The Scottish and UK Governments need to turn up the heat on both FIFA and the government of Saudi Arabia. We shouldn’t be rewarding people who take a bonesaw to the opponents of their regime with one of the globe’s most prestigious sporting events.”