I’ve never been more proud of an Australian national team than after the Socceroos’ brave and forthright video message denouncing Qatar’s human rights record.
Predictably and within minutes, the foolish voices of people requesting that politics and sport be separated and not clumsily used to make social and progressive statements appeared.
Sadly, those jumping up and down in anger that the Socceroos had been the first team brave enough to make a formal public and collectively agreed upon statement around their pending trip to Qatar for the World Cup, are once again seriously missing the point.
With the deaths of thousands of migrant workers during the construction process of the facilities required to host the world’s biggest single-sport event as well as the ultra-conservative nations’ continued adherence to laws that criminalise same-sex relationships broadly understood, many will take the broken-record approach to the argument.
“Leave politics out of sport” they will say. “Politics and sport don’t mix” is another good one.
However, before sprouting the above nonsense, I’d encourage those tempted to do so to perhaps reflect on the simple fact that the injustices that have and continue to occur in Qatar are not ‘political’ in any way shape or form.
In simple terms, they are breaches of an individual’s human dignity, something supposedly protected by the United Nations in the Declaration of Human Rights.
Historically, when firm decrees are made by the UN, the intended recipient has mostly ignored the concerns raised by the international body. There was an outcry over two years ago when details of the deaths of foreign workers in Qatar began to emerge and the personal restrictions around exactly who someone is permitted to love had been news-worthy for some time.
Yet only modest changes have been made and the Socceroos as a group have felt motivated to make a statement and take a firm stance that reflects their values and feelings towards the country to which they are about to travel.
It is cheap and easy to suggest that the Socceroos are playing politics.
Politics is constructing budgets, tackling deficits and inflation, providing services, managing economies, spin doctoring to get elected, allocating jobs for the boys where possible, and generally, feathering a nest for you and your mates, rather than attempting to make real and tangible changes to a nation that helps those in most need.
That is politics.
Locking two men or two women up for falling in love with each other is not. Nor is the basic denial of fair, appropriate and safe working conditions for workers. Basic human rights are not political.
Article 2 of the Declaration is fairly succinct in its call for the dignity of EVERY human being to be protected across an array of areas often mistaken as political issues.
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
When an African American is brutally murdered in the United States in front of salivating media or an Indigenous AFL footballer dare call out racism; when a woman is assaulted, disrespected or overlooked based on her gender, or a group of footballers hide behind misinformed interpretations of religious texts then subsequently and fundamentally question inclusivity, many people shout “Politics”.
Garang Kuol of the Socceroos. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
They completely miss the point.
In each of the circumstances above, as well as in the case of the estimated 6,500 deceased workers and the homosexual community in Qatar, basic human rights have been breached, obliterated and completely ignored.
Had the Socceroos made a public statement expressing dissatisfaction with the Federal Budget handed down on Monday night, that would have been political. If they had decided to tackle Football Australia and called for better pay and conditions, that too would have been a clear use of their platform for a political purpose. If our Socceroos had uniformly endorsed veganism and called for all fans to adopt the practice, aside from the barrels of laughter, the pathetic politics being played would be obvious.
However, they didn’t.
What our men’s national football team has done has called out breaches of basic human rights, in the hope of making a change in the future. If other national teams have the courage to join them, the chances of that happening increase.
I for one, am proud of the statement the Socceroos have made. Dignity and human rights will never, ever be political issues.
They are far more important than that.
tas pitta
Roar Rookie
Qatar has laws that discriminate against every person that is not a muslim straight male.
Remote
Guest
I guess in the end this type of scenario lends itself to multiple debates from many angles and sides. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Opinion vs opinion , often depending on cultural viewpoint. I could as many who have contributed to this piece so far could also, spend hours dragging up all the injustices across the planet( on a daily basis). Where’s the heavyweights of supposed world influence on this as the above points out and so on. In the end individuals and groups, if so inclined can go ahead and criticise in any manner they see fit. Right or wrong who knows, let’s face it whether it’s the Qatar World Cup or Covid or Putin’s actions, the gate is open, the horse has bolted. I don’t see the Socceroos actions as any different than countless numbers of student protests in a multitude of countries over decades or anti-loggers chaining themselves to trees. How many changed what their protesting against in the end? I guess as an individual/ group, if you feel you could make a difference, it’s your choice. Even in non democratic countries people protest , often under life threatening circumstances, it’s human nature perhaps.
Lew Brennan
Guest
A couple of thoughts stimulated by your emotional piece Stuart. Where are the United Nations and it’s divisions such as WHO and UNESCO in regard to the issues you pointed out in Qatar? Why don’t the Socceroos (and other politically active sporting teams) bring attention to these organisations and politicians throughout the world? That’s not a question you can answer other than to speculate… However one thing you can answer. As a journalist why haven’t you and the news organisation you work for attacked those organisations and individuals for failing to address these disgusting human rights issues?
chris
Guest
Punter spot on. Here is AR who's never been to a football match . Doesn't like the game but spends his time on here putting it down. Then he questions "you guys" and how he doesn't understand us. No thoughts on his own behaviour. How strange are you AR? "We" aren't against other sports. You can follow whatever sport you like. But don't come on here denigrating football. Never a positive word. And then get all sooky about how you get treated on here. Thats bizarre.
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
I'm not really following the logic that endorsing same sex marriage isn't political, yet endorsing veganism is? Finding veganism funny and pathetic doesn't make it 'political', and same-sex relationship rights aren't less political just because it's a worthy cause. Anyway, It's a bit of a philosophical article which doesn't follow it's own logic. Nevertheless, good on the Socceroos for putting this out there.
No9
Roar Rookie
All very well but will they get on the pitch ?
No9
Roar Rookie
Human rights are a moral argument and as soon as I hear the moral imperative " should " I reach for my ear plugs :angry: because I know a facile but shallow little homily homily will follow.
No9
Roar Rookie
Political scientists , including me , will smile gently at your quaint narrow definition of politics .Politics is usually well defined as conflict anywhere . They will smile even more at your elevation of human rights to something that transcends conflict . Good luck with that attempt to shut down debate . Tom Paine does give some comfort to the more ordinary sort of person who doesn't ask too many questions such as : where do these rights come from . who decides what they are . can they be changed, are they transportable , Are they from God or man , if from God then which God...old uncle Tom Cobley and all... Paine was lucky that he had Locke to give some polish to his views but it won't help the conflict over work conditions in Qatar. The resolution of that is a matter for them because thay are a sovereign country . The matter will not be resolved by semi literates from the bogan woke culture of Melbourne and Sydney bringing their transported mind baggage and suburban attit udes to a country where they are invited guests .
criag
Roar Rookie
The unprecedented deaths of thousands of workers building the stadiums and their virtual imprisonment in the country is beyond politics. If it interferes with a country's laws too much to avoid that, they shouldn't be hosting a world cup.
Boca
Guest
The Socceroos are the National football team of Australia.. that’s it. Stick to football & strive to become better players & a better national team. Otherwise, boycott Qatar .. like all fans world wide should. Every country is sovereign. Only reason to boycott Qatar is because they bought the hosting rights through illegal means & FIFA were complicit.
Simoc
Guest
By bringing the World game to such a place the caveperson countries inadequacies are highlighted to the World. Only then will they take notice. We'll know in a decade. Otherwise its business as usual and the nation carries on as before. Many countries have hopeless inadequacies in their present life and Australia's blatant racism and attitude towards First Nations people is right up there with the hosts of this upcoming World Cup.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I love Golf, cricket, tennis, surfing & Olympics, there is no sport I dislike. I just don't think Melbourne is the world's sporting capital & I think AFL while massive in Melbourne, is a small sport world wide. No bizarre attitude, just stating facts.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
The brain of a leftist is truly a bizarre thing.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Your motivation is obvious having taken all this money from these countries and having had to fawn to them during the process which you found unpleasant, your trying to absolve yourself of it by putting down others than have been prepared to stand up instead of bending over. The difference is these people sincerely care on the video, you only care about having to had to fawn to them.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Shining a light on the treatment of migrant workers and the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships is not playing politics it's just saying what needs to be said. It's about promoting human dignity. Treating others as you would want to be treated yourself. Should the players have refused to play in Qatar? That's a reasonable question that each one of them can answer for themselves. But I support what they have said.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
FIFA the actual staff in the organisation wanted nothing to do with a world cup in Qatar. Oil and gas is nothing to do with FIFA, the Middle East doesn;t provide a great deal of revenue to FIFA. France is Qatars real backer, and beneficiary of the gas deal that was the biggest bribe in history to receive the world cup. They also tried to subvert the Oceania vote with the Tahiti representative. Ultimately the government of each country knew what their executive commitee member was doing with the exception of the USA. The USA then decided to turn a blind eye to Qatar. IRB - revenue distributed mainly to the big 10 and possible contenders the Pacific islands given a small fraction to hobble their performance. ICC - most revenue goes to the already ultra wealthy India and the top nations. FIFA Equal distribution to all 200 members. UEFA has massive revenue multiple times FIFA and makes sure it all stays in European hands. Only one organisation is doing the right thing and its FIFA.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Yes missing out on the Wallabies really hit them hard. Why did the Lions give up on Australia much earlier.
AR
Guest
"...something you will always struggle to understand with the small sports you follow." I never understand this "small sports you follow", as though it is meaningless to follow any other sport, just because it's not soccer. What do you guys have against cricket, and tennis, and golf, and surfing, and the Olympics? It's a bizarre attitude.
Greysy
Roar Rookie
The rugby boycott was uneven. For the Lions and NZ it was 80-81, but the Wallabies played them to great controversy in 1971 and then didn't play the Boks again until the boycott ended in 1992.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
No the sporting boycotts started in the 50's with the African football championship, I cant remember which team they wanted to send their offer to FIFA was send the white team to England in 66 and then they would send the black team to Mexico in 70. Olympics didnt bother them, The only sport that counted was rugby , they had the lions tour in 80 and NZ tour in 81.