Lawyers identified four areas Saudis are breaching Fifa policies but they have had no response from world governing body after five months
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opened the 2018 World Cup in Moscow.Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, left, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the match between Russia and Saudi Arabia which opened the 2018 World Cup in Moscow.Saudi bid to host the World Cup
is to be made in December, although it appears to be a foregone conclusion given there are no other bidders. The lawyers – Prof Mark Pieth, Stefan Wehrenberg and Rodney Dixon KC – submitted, Hatice Cengiz, said Fifa had failed to respond to the report. “We are calling on Fifa, with its proud history of taking a stance in favour of human rights, to do exactly that right now and it is simply not good enough to not respond at all to our report,” he said. “There has to be a consultation.
“We are not alone in calling for an honest, proper review,” Dixon said. “Fifa does have teeth. In the past it has taken dramatic steps, and banned countries including Russia and Indonesia. They have had a huge impact on changing perceptions. We say this is another watershed moment.”The report focuses on four areas. First, Saudi Arabia “must immediately release all political prisoners and those who are arbitrarily detained” and treat all prisoners in accordance with human rights standards.
A Fifa spokesperson said it was implementing “thorough bidding processes” for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups. “All relevant reports, including the independent human rights context assessments and the human rights strategies of all, are available on our website. The bid evaluation reports for the 2030 and 2034 Fifa World Cup will be published ahead of the Extraordinary Fifa Congress on 11 December 2024.
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