As the drums of the World Cup are about to beat next month, the human rights controversy in Qatar has once again become a hot topic of discussion. In the midst of this soccer extravaganza, a team from across the ocean, the Australian national team, released a strong statement on Thursday (27) on the FA's official platform. In the statement, 16 players, including captain Maffrayne, spoke out collectively, exposing Qatar's unfair treatment of migrant workers and cisgender minorities through a black-and-white video.
The footage shows the players in a firm voice criticizing the human rights situation in Qatar, calling for support for the rights of sexual minorities, advocating for the repeal of the criminalization of homosexuality statute, and proposing the establishment of a Migrant Resource Center to safeguard the basic rights of migrants and laborers. The Australian Football Association has shown unprecedented courage and commitment by expressing its full support for this action.
It is worth noting that the Australian national team is the first team to speak out publicly during the final week of the World Cup. They have been placed in Group D with France, Denmark and Tunisia in the group stage, where a battle between human rights and soccer is about to unfold.
