FIFA urges nations to 'focus on football rather than politics' during the 2022 Qatar World Cup

The tournament is set to kick off in a few week's time

FIFA has written to World Cup teams urging them to focus on the football in Qatar and not let the sport be dragged into ideological or political "battles". The letter from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the governing body's secretary general Fatma Samoura follows a number of protests made by World Cup teams, on issues ranging from LGBTIQ rights to concerns over the treatment of migrant workers.

“Please, let’s now focus on the football!” Infantino and Samoura wrote, asking the 32 soccer federations to “not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.” Above all, Qatar was picked in 2010 as World Cup host sparked scrutiny on its treatment of low-paid migrant workers needed to build projects costing tens of billions of dollars and its laws criminalizing same-sex relationships.

Multicoloured armbands

Eight European teams have committed to their captains wearing heart-shaped armbands — in breach of FIFA rules — to support an anti-discrimination campaign. Also, the request by England, Wales, and six other European countries for their captains to wear "One Love" multicoloured armbands at the World Cup. In response to worries about Qatar's anti-LGBTQ+ policies is not addressed in the letter. 

“We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world. “But please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.” “At FIFA, we try to respect all opinions and beliefs. Without handing out moral lessons to the rest of the world. Infantino and Samoura added, "No people, culture or nation is ‘better’ than any other."

Finally, this principle is the very foundation stone of mutual respect and non-discrimination. Also, this is also one of the core values of football. The FIFA boss added everyone would be welcome in Qatar "regardless of origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality".