Rebalance of power expected in football after controversies in World Cup host selection process: Expert

SINGAPORE: Lessons and measures from the World Cup in Qatar will leave an irreversible mark on the future of the tournament, and on the operations of football governing body FIFA, said an observer. 

As critics focus on human rights issues in the host nation, FIFA has nominally committed to factoring in a country’s human rights record in its selection process for future editions of the competition, which takes place once every four years.

There will also be a more open and transparent process of awarding hosting rights, with the decision made by a wider and more representative body from the FIFA congress.

These are some changes highlighted by S Rajaratnam School of International Studies adjunct senior fellow James Dorsey on Friday (Dec 2) on CNA’s Asia First.

The build-up to this year’s tournament, the first to be held in the Middle East, was marred by controversy, with protests continuing on and off the field even after the first ball was kicked.

These include the German team's hand-over-mouth gesture over FIFA silencing their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights, and the Iranian team declining to sing their national anthem in support of anti-government protesters back home.

“We've got to keep in mind that, first of all, Qatar is an autocracy. It is not a democracy. Demonstrations are banned in Qatar,” said Dr Dorsey.

He added that while people wearing the rainbow colours of the LGBT movement have been asked to remove them, there have been very few arrests.

“So by and large, the Qataris have gone quite light-handed on all kinds of infractions of Qatari law, but at the same time they have been inclusive in the sense that LGBT fans are in Qatar, even if they cannot wear their colours," he said.

He added