Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has written to countries that will participate in the 2022 World Cup, to focus on the tournament in Qatar.
In the message, the world football governing body urged them not to be part of talking about morality and dragging football “into every ideological or political battle that exists”.
The letter was written by FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, and the governing body’s secretary general, Fatma Samoura.
It was sent amid increasing pressure on players to be activists around the tournament.
It has been a World Cup build-up affected by concerns about the suffering encountered by low-paid migrant workers who build the infrastructure in the tiny Gulf nation as well as discriminatory laws that criminalize same-sex relations.
Infantino and Samoura wrote: “Please, let’s now focus on the football!” “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.”
The letter however did not address the request by England and Wales and six other European nations that their captains should wear “One Love” multicoloured armbands at the World Cup in response to concerns raised about Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Both British countries have already disclosed they would defy any FIFA ban.
Infantino wrote: “At FIFA, we try to respect all opinions and beliefs, without handing out moral lessons to the rest of the world.
“One of the great strengths of the world is indeed its very diversity, and if inclusion means anything, it means having respect for that diversity. No one people or culture or nation is ‘better’ than any other.
“This principle is the very foundation stone of mutual respect and non-discrimination. And this is also one of the core values of football. So, please let’s all remember that and let football take centre stage.”
Infantino reveals everybody will be welcome in Qatar “regardless of origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality”.
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