04/12/2024 Culture, Science, Education and Media
Mogens Jensen (Denmark, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur on Governance and Ethics in Sport, today made the following statement:
“On 11 December FIFA is set to decide on the host country for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia is the only candidate, following a rather opaque process. Unfortunately, so far it does not appear that FIFA is adhering to its own eligibility and evaluation criteria for the selection of host countries, particularly when it comes to human rights conditionalities. The organisation is yet to impose binding demands on Saudi Arabia for reforms in key areas such as labour rights, freedom of expression, gender equality and anti-discrimination.
I strongly urge FIFA to ensure and clearly demonstrate that binding requirements for reform in these areas will be imposed on Saudi Arabia before approval of its bid to host the 2034 World Cup.”