November 8 – In a move highlighting how football is closing ranks against the constant barrage of criticism of World Cup hosts Qatar, South America’s governing (Conmebol) said it is time to focus on football and for “disagreements to take a back seat”, echoing FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The South Americans became the latest confederation to back FIFA’s controversial ‘shut up and play’ policy. In a statement, Conmebol said: “CONMEBOL and its ten Member Associations call on the football world to support the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This message (of sport) is powerful because it is universal, it goes far beyond political or ideological disputes, temporary disagreements, and occasional confrontations.”
“The time has come for disagreements and fights to take a back seat, let the games begin for all citizens (to) enjoy an all-embracing celebration, so eagerly awaited by our planet.”
It follows support from the AFC after Gianni Infantino controversially said that football should not be dragged into “ideological or political battles”. In an unprecedented move, the FIFA supremo wrote to the 32 World Cup finalists in a blatant attempt at muzzling dissenting voices.
In 2010, Qatar were awarded the World Cup, but the Gulf nation have constantly faced scrutiny, firstly over allegations that they bought the World Cup and later, and increasingly, over the the safety and working conditions for migrant workers, the country’s human rights record and treatment the LGBT community.
The AFC’s Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa did not call for a muzzling of national associations and their players but did call on world football to unite behind the delivery of the World Cup.
European countries, including eight World Cup participants, rejected Infantino’s ill-conceived shut-up policy. England, Wales, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal and Belgium demanded a definitive response regarding a compensation fund for migrant workers.
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