Denmark’s football association has said it is introducing a series of measures to highlight human rights abuses in Qatar after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
The DBU said its two training-kit sponsors would make way for messages critical of Qatar, which is hosting next year’s tournament, and that it would minimise the number of trips to the country to avoid commercial activities that promote the World Cup hosts’ events.
“DBU has long been strongly critical of the World Cup in Qatar,” its chief executive officer, Jakob Jensen, said in a statement. “But now we are further intensifying our efforts and critical dialogue so that we take advantage of the fact that we have qualified to work for more change in the country.
“In addition, we have long drawn attention to the challenges facing Fifa and Qatar, and we will continue to do so.”
This week Amnesty International published a 48-page report that said thousands of migrant workers in Qatar were being trapped and exploited, with many facing “wage theft”. The government of Qatar denied the accusations but acknowledged that its labour system was still a “work in progress”.
Jensen said he was pleased to see the DBU’s commercial partners give up space on the training kits for messages to improve conditions for the migrant workers in Qatar.
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“It’s a very strong signal when our partners also engage in the fight for better conditions in Qatar,” he said. “The partners support Danish football, the men’s national team and the sporting participation in the European Championship and the World Cup – not the individual host.”