Selected fans who accept the trip of a lifetime – financed by Qatar, hosts of this year’s World Cup – will be required to abide by contracts that require them to sing what they say. , they would need to sing to see that. Reporting, most controversially, social media posts made by other fans criticizing Qatar. Yet despite those rules, hundreds of supporters have signed up.
The invitations went out at the end of September, and targeted some of the most well-connected and well-known fan leaders supporting 32 teams for the World Cup. A Dutch fan told broadcaster NOS that he has agreed to investigate other Netherlands supporters. A board member of the largest pro-American group, American Outlaws, agreed to participate, and then helped fellow members and others sign up.
On Thursday, members of the Outlaws, who accepted a previous trip to Qatar as part of the programme, said they had decided not to accept free travel or accommodation from Qatar at the World Cup weeks earlier. Meanwhile, fans from all FIFA federations have accepted the offer; Dozens of players have already traveled to Qatar at least once for their wonderful pre-World Cup tours. He, too, was paid by the tournament organisers.
However, other fans have declined. The terms attached to the proposal, a French fan told Le Parisien, felt like a step too far. “Despite the savory side of the cuisine, I chose to stay true to my values,” said Joseph Delage, a member of the pro-French group.
Qatar’s proposal, which stems from a fan engagement program that began in 2020, marks the first time a host country has paid for groups of fans from all competing countries to participate in a World Cup. But this isn’t the first time Qatar has filled stadiums with friendly voices; In 2019, migrant workers and school children were shortlisted to fill vacant seats at the World Track and Field Championships in Doha.
In exchange for their World Cup benefits, this year’s fans – more than 50 from each country – will be required to perform in a ceremony before the tournament starts on November 20 against Ecuador. The organizers have dedicated five minutes of that celebration to a fable. Clause in which beneficiaries of Qatar’s generosity will be required to perform specific chants or songs for their country, chosen not by them but by tournament organisers. Representatives from Qatar’s World Cup organizing committee this week tried to downplay the explicit and implicit requirements in the proposal. “There’s no compulsion to campaign or do anything,” Ahsan Mansoor, Fan Engagement Director for the 2022 World Cup, said in an interview.
But a closer look at the terms of the relationship revealed that elected supporters are encouraged to do so, as well as support the World Cup from the organizers by “liking” the message and posting third-party posts. Re-sharing is encouraged. At the same time, according to documents and contracts reviewed by The New York Times and certified by many fans, the participants are warned that although they are not being asked to be the “mouthpiece” for Qatar, “it is clearly Wouldn’t suit you for disliking the country or the tournament.
Fan leaders have also signed up to be on the lookout for such negativity in the comments on their posts; A section in the code of conduct says to “report any offensive, derogatory or derogatory remarks” to the organizers. Where possible, the code says, they should supply screenshots of any offending posts.
Violators of the rules are warned that they may be dismissed from the program. “At best they are volunteers for the World Cup and at worst they are a mouthpiece for the Supreme Committee,” said Ronan Evenn, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, an umbrella organization of fan groups known as European football’s governing body. Recognized by. UEFA. In the dozen years since Qatar was awarded the World Cup, the country has worked hard to shape and protect its national image amid corruption claims, environmental concerns and human rights issues.
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