Fifa told to deny Saudi Arabia 2034 World Cup without rights reforms
Legal experts cite treatment of dissent, women and judiciaryKingdom ‘in breach of Fifa’s own policies in several areas’
Fifa must be prepared to deny Saudi Arabia the right to host the 2034 men’s World Cup if the kingdom fails to comply with human rights obligations, according to a new legal submission filed with the governing body.
Written by a team of legal experts that includes the British barrister Rodney Dixon KC, who represents the widow of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and Professor Mark Pieth, who previously advised Fifa on governance reforms, the document is a warning over the gap between commitments the organisation has made regarding human rights and the reality of life in Saudi Arabia.
