Qatar 2022: Norway ruled out boycott of World Cup | Football News

Qatar 2022: Norway ruled out boycott of World Cup | Football News

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At a special meeting convened by the Norwegian Football Association, delegates voted against the motion to boycott the event.

The Norwegian Football Association ruled out the possibility of boycotting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, even though its grassroots are under pressure for accusing migrant workers in Gulf countries of violating human rights.

At a special congress convened by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday, 368 delegates voted for a motion to reject a boycott, while 121 delegates agreed.

On the eve of the vote, the spokesperson of the Norwegian League of Supporters (NSA) Ole Kristian Sandvik (Ole Kristian Sandvik) stated that the Qatar game was “unfortunately, just like a cemetery game” and it was Norway’s participation. A term commonly used by opponents of the game.

Norway has not participated in major international competitions since the European Cup in 2000, and currently ranks fourth in the World Cup qualifier group.

Therefore, although the qualifying round seems to be a difficult task, the result of the vote may have an impact on whether Norway will continue the qualifying round.

A detailed view of a T-shirt worn by a Norwegian player during the warm-up in March 2021, which reads “Human rights on and off the stadium” [Fran Santiago/Getty Images]

The campaign to call for a boycott began with a speech by the Tromso Club in Illinois in February.

“We can no longer sit back and watch people die in the name of football,” said the first-tier club.

Tom Hogley, who turned from a football player to a public relations official in Tromso, Illinois, told AFP: “There is no doubt that this World Cup should not be awarded to Qatar. The conditions there are bad and many people have lost their lives.”

Since Qatar was granted the right to host the event in 2010, Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record has been a concern.

The country stated that it had carried out several labor reforms before the big events to be held in November and December next year.

In August last year, Qatar announced Landmark change Labor law, including removing the need for a “no objection certificate”-employers are allowed to change jobs. Earlier this year, a new minimum wage law was also introduced.

In a poll published by the VG newspaper last week, nearly half of Norwegians (49%) supported the boycott, while only 29% opposed it.

Feeling the pressure from the grassroots movement, the NFF referred the matter to a special convention that convened its eight-member executive committee and representatives from 18 regions and hundreds of professional and amateur clubs on Sunday.

The discussion revolved around the findings of an expert committee that, in addition to two members representing the fans, has also opposed the boycott.

The committee did not resist, but recommended 26 measures to consolidate and further advance the results achieved in Qatar.

The Norwegian national team has protested the situation in Qatar, but has not called for a boycott.

Before the recent game, Dortmund star Erin Haaland, captain Martin Odegard and their teammates all wore T-shirts with slogans such as “Human Rights on and Off the Stadium”.

FIFA believes that granting Qatar the right to host the World Cup opens the door to social progress.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in May: “We know that there is still work to be done, but we need to recognize the significant progress made in a short period of time.”





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