FIFA, "stung by criticism that it overlooks human rights in countries staging its tournaments," set up an advisory panel to address the issue, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. South Africa and Brazil, which hosted the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, "were criticized over alleged human rights violations while there are also concerns about Russia and Qatar," which are staging the next two World Cups. In particular, "the plight of migrants" in Qatar has "alarmed human rights and labor organizations." FIFA said that the new panel will meet for the first time on Monday, "providing FIFA with advice on all issues that the board members may consider relevant for the implementation of FIFA’s human rights responsibilities." Issues on which the panel could provide advice "include labor standards, health and safety, property rights, security, discrimination and freedom of expression." FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said in a statement, "It is the first advisory board of its kind for any sports federation, and we look forward to the pioneering work we will jointly undertake." The panel will include representatives from FIFA sponsors adidas and Coca-Cola, corruption watchdog Transparency Int'l, the United Nations and FIFPro (REUTERS, 3/10).
The current members of the advisory board, selected on the basis of their expertise in human rights-related matters, are:
- William Anderson (adidas)
- Rachel Davis (Shift)
- Ignacio Packer (Terre des Hommes)
- Sylvia Schenk (Transparency Int'l Germany)
- Theo van Seggelen (FIFPro)
- Lene Wendland (Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)
- Brent Wilton (Coca-Cola)
- Ambet Yuson (Building and Wood Workers’ Int'l) (FIFA).
MUTKO BANNED: The London GUARDIAN reported Russian Deputy PM Vitaly Mutko "has been barred from standing for re-election" for a place on the FIFA Council. Mutko, who is also head of the Russian Football Union, "failed an eligibility test" carried out by the FIFA review committee. He was reportedly barred "because his ministerial role contravened the statutes of the global football body" and it is believed that the decision "was not connected to the doping scandal which has engulfed Russian sport." Mutko: "As far as our stance and preparations for the World Cup finals are concerned, the committee’s decision has no bearing on that. I wanted to be re-elected but now FIFA, represented by its compliance committee, has somewhat changed the criteria. A new criterion, political neutrality, has been introduced." Mutko "was among five candidates for four four-year term European places" on the FIFA Council (
GUARDIAN, 3/10).
POSSIBLE SUSPENSION: The BBC's Piers Edwards reported Mali is facing a possible FIFA suspension after the country's sports minister "missed a deadline to revoke his dissolution" of the football federation's exec committee. Mali Sports Minister Housseini Amion Guindo "took his action on Wednesday and duly installed an interim committee to lead the federation" (FEMAFOOT) until a new board can be elected (BBC, 3/11).
