FIFA are set to create a new director of human rights and sustainability role, amid increased Middle Eastern involvement at the top of English football and criticisms over the governing body’s actions at the Qatar World Cup
- FIFA are recruiting a new director dedicated exclusively to human rights issues
- The world governing body has received significant criticism over recent years
- Their decision to award the World Cup to Qatar remains highly controversial
FIFA are recruiting a new director dedicated to human rights as the prospect of increased Middle Eastern involvement at the top of English football looms.
A Qatari fund is in the midst of preparing a formal offer to take over at £5billion valued Manchester United, a development we exclusively revealed last week.
Sportsmail has learned that FIFA have started interviewing for a new position entitled ‘director of human rights and sustainability’ and are close to making an appointment.
The process is ongoing, but it is understood the organisation are now down to the final few candidates.
The successful applicant will play a lead role within FIFA’s work in the spectre of human rights and seek to repair the damage caused by the controversial decision to award Qatar the previous World Cup.
FIFA are recruiting a new director dedicated to human rights and are close to an appointment
It comes amid a Qatari fund being in the midst of preparing a formal offer for Man United
The successful applicant will play a lead role within FIFA’s work on human rights and seek to repair the damage caused by the controversial decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup
FIFA faced an intense backlash in the build-up to Qatar 2022 due to the host nation’s dreadful human rights record.
Thousands of migrant workers are alleged to have died whilst building the infrastructure for the tournament while homosexuality is banned in the Islamic state.
World football’s governing body already have head of human rights and anti-discrimination Andreas Graf working within the sensitive portfolio, but their new recruit will work closely alongside the highly-respected Swiss as the organisation bolster their efforts in the minefield.
The issue of human rights awareness is becoming increasingly prevalent in England.
For example, Newcastle’s controversial Saudi Arabian takeover in October 2021 led to major criticism due to a range of alleged human rights violations in the Islamic state.
There is likely to be a similar backlash should the Qatari interest at Old Trafford prove successful.
Qatar Sports Investment, who already own Paris Saint-Germain, are actively looking to take a minority stake in a Premier League side and have met Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, though the club insist any discussions were not linked to a buyout.
The news will also alert the Football Association, who were among the most critical of FIFA in the lead up to Qatar 2022.
The Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United in October 2021 was heavily criticised
FIFA prevented England captain Harry Kane from wearing a ‘OneLove’ rainbow armband, in support of the LGBTQ+ community during the World Cup last year
The successful candidate will play a role in trying to work through any lingering tensions between the two organisations following the World Cup.
FIFA prevented England captain Harry Kane from wearing a ‘OneLove’ rainbow armband, in support of the LGBTQ+ community, in Qatar last year, a stance that infuriated the FA.
