June 22, 2016 5:07 AM

FIFA: Corruption and willful ignorance of human rights is our middle name

FIFA remains committed to hosting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where a projected 7,000 slaves will die in the process of constructing facilities funded by Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Anheuser-Busch. But the atrocious human rights situation in that country extends beyond the laborers shanghaied into building an event they’ll never live to see; Qatar is jailing tourists for having the temerity to be raped. From CNN: The 22-year-old woman…identified only as Laura, was at a hotel bar having drinks with a friend, but then had a drink that made her feel “very unwell”…. She reportedly woke up in an unfamiliar location and realized “to her great horror” that she had been raped after her drink was spiked…. When she reported the rape to the police, she herself was imprisoned.

To say that FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, is steeped in corruption is like claiming water to be wet or that Donald Trump is a thoroughly objectionable self-absorbed asshat. That corruption led to the process that awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, meaning that soccer games will be played in a climate that can reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Qatari officials have repeatedly assured FIFA that they will adequately account for player (and fan) safety. Given the bribes extend to FIFA officials involved in the bidding process which awarded the tournament to Qatar, it’s not unreasonable to believe there’s every reason to suspect that those assurances and solemn promises are something close to worthless.

Then there’s the Qatari government’s atrocious human rights record and the slave labor being used to construct their World Cup venues. Neither the international community nor the multinationals sponsoring the tournament seem at all troubled by the projection that something like 7000 workers laboring in near-slavery will die.

Hey, no worries, though…just think of the potential marketing slogans!!

  • HAVE A COKE AND A SMILE!! SO WHAT IF’S IT YOUR LAST DAY DRAWING BREATH ON THIS PLANET!!!

  • MCDONALD’S: WE’RE LOVING IT!! AND SO WILL YOU WHEN YOU FALL OFF A STEEL BEAM 47 FLOORS TO YOUR DEATH!!!

  • THIS BUD’S FOR YOU!! IT’S JUST TOO BAD THAT YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO RAISE ONE…BECAUSE YOU’RE PROBABLY GOING TO DIE IN A WORKPLACE ACCIDENT!!!

And then there’s the human rights angle, which any marketing grad with any skills at all could turn into a brilliant case of making lemonade out of lemons:

  • WELCOME TO QATAR! COME FOR THE SOCCER, STAY FOR THE INSTITUTIONALIZED REPRESSION SLAVE LABOR!

  • QATAR: INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE MEN’S RIGHTS MOVEMENT!!

  • QATAR: YOU SEE SLAVE LABOR AND THE DEATHS OF EXPLOITED WORKERS. WE SEE LOW LABOR COSTS!!

Oh, and lest I forget, there’s the Qatari government’s abysmal record on women’s rights:

  • ROOFIES: THE TRADITIONAL QATARI DATING RITUAL!!

  • HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN A QATARI MAN GETS LAID? THE WOMAN HE PICKED UP IN A HOTEL BAR WAKES UP AND HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF THE PRIOR 12 HOURS!

Yeah, I know; I’ll be here all week. Don’t forget to tip your server!!

  • QATAR: IGNORING A WOMAN’S RIGHT NOT TO BE RAPED SINCE…WELL, FOREVER!!

I don’t know how FIFA, especially after cleaning house, can’t look at what’s happening in Qatar and realize they’ve made a horrible mistake. It seems they’re hoping that if they act as if nothing’s wrong long enough, the international community will forget about the Qatari government’s corruption and horrific track record on women’s and foreign worker’s rights.

Hey, have a Coke and a smile! And may I interest you in a happy meal?

Oh…before I forget, the Dutch woman jailed for being raped has been in a Qatari jail for three months.

Congratulations, FIFA! Well played.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on June 22, 2016 5:07 AM.

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