Better late than never, I suppose.
Five days to go until the 2022 World Cup kicks off and the FAI have finally found their voice on Qatar’s appalling treatment of migrant workers and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the association’s chief executive Jonathan Hill referenced the role football can play in bringing about “societal change.”
I doubt the World Cup hosts will pay too much attention at this point to a 167-word missive belatedly calling out abuses in the tiny Gulf state.
They have too much to be doing, between preparing for their opening match against Ecuador next Sunday and attempting to sportswash the blood-red stains from their pristine white thobes.
Hill’s words would have had a much bigger impact if they were uttered 13 months ago, when Qatar were in Dublin for a 4-0 friendly defeat.
It might have been considered a diplomatic own goal by some, but in truth it was an open goal.
Seven months earlier, Norway’s players stood arm-in-arm on the pitch in the moments before their qualifier against Gibraltar wearing t-shirts with ‘Human rights on and off the pitch’ printed across their chests.
Technically they were in breach of FIFA’s laws that ban players from using equipment with “any political, religious or personal slogans”.
But the world’s governing body was already a mile offside with fans around the globe thanks to the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar.
So they wisely opted against penalising the Norwegian FA.
It was around this time that more people in football started to speak out.
The Dutch FA addressed “the plight of migrant workers” and pledged to use the spotlight on the World Cup to improve the circumstances of those building almost from scratch the infrastructure needed to host a World Cup.
And the English FA issued a statement where it said there was “still much more to be done” on human rights in Qatar.
Of course, there is little evidence to suggest that the words of the Dutch and English authorities, or the courageous actions of the Norwegian players, did much to improve things for migrants and minorities.
But at least they stepped forward in a timely manner.
Credit should also go to the Australian World Cup squad for their impactful recent video, which went viral on social media.
Our association had a better opportunity than most to register an effective protest when they hosted Qatar in Dublin last year.
Up to Tuesday afternoon, however, it was left to manager Stephen Kenny and women’s captain Katie McCabe, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, to speak out.
“Obviously, Harry Kane wearing the rainbow captain's armband will be massive and I think it will raise visibility within the key issues that are in Qatar right now,” said McCabe.
“I hope other nations do that and take a stand while playing the games.”
But at least, having corresponded with Amnesty International Ireland, the FAI have stepped forward.
In a statement, the association “stated clearly its strong belief that football can be a positive force to highlight inequalities in society and should be a catalyst for real, positive and sustainable societal change.”
It quoted CEO Hill as saying: “The FAI supports the call for the protection and support of migrant workers and their families and for basic human rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community to be respected at all times.
“We trust that the significant media attention on the Tournament in the coming days and weeks will do much to shine a light on these important issues and that football can reflect on the role it can play in effecting societal change.”
Better late than never.
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