Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In recent years, FIFA has earned a reputation for granting the hosting rights of its most prestigious competition, the World Cup, to countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. In December, Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, despite global concerns regarding the country’s poor human rights record.
In this episode, we hear from Håvard Melnæs, editor of the Norwegian soccer magazine Josimar, as the 2022 World Cup entered its final stages. Håvard and his team use critical and investigative journalism to shed light on the corruption, cronyism, and sportswashing running rampant in the sport.
#hrf #humanrightsfoundation #Dissidents&Dictators
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Dissidents and Dictators: Exposing Human Rights Abuses
00:06:18 - Dire Human Rights Record in Qatar and Russia
00:13:17 - The Regime in Putin's Russia
00:19:57 - Arrest and Trial of Abdullah Ibis
00:27:29 - Threats and Intimidation in Qatar
00:34:21 - FIFA's Double Standards and Government Interference
00:41:26 - The Dark Side of Sports Whitewashing
00:47:49 - The Impact of Regime-Funded Football Clubs
00:54:02 - Human Rights Abusers in Football
01:00:11 - Gratitude
Learn more about our #Dissidents&Dictators podcast series: hrf.org/programs/dissidents-and-dictators
Learn more about our work at the Human Rights Foundation!
Website: hrf.org
X (formerly known as Twitter): twitter.com/HRF
Instagram: instagram.com/hrf
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hrf
Subscribe to HRF’s Substack: humanrightsfoundation.substack.com
Join us in promoting freedom where it’s most at risk!
Donate today: hrf.org/?form=donate
#WorldCup2022 #Qatar2022 #FIFACorruption #HumanRights #MigrantWorkers #FootballPolitics #SportsWashing #AuthoritarianRegimes #GianniInfantino #JosimarMagazine #InvestigativeJournalism #FootballReform #GrassrootsMovements #FootballsFuture #HumanRightsFoundation #NorwegianJournalism #ControversialHostSelection #RussiaWorldCup #QatarControversy #BoycottQatar2022 #EthicalSports #SoccerPolitics
In recent years, FIFA has earned a reputation for granting the hosting rights of its most prestigious competition, the World Cup, to countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. In December, Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, despite global concerns regarding the country’s poor human rights record.
In this episode, we hear from Håvard Melnæs, editor of the Norwegian soccer magazine Josimar, as the 2022 World Cup entered its final stages. Håvard and his team use critical and investigative journalism to shed light on the corruption, cronyism, and sportswashing running rampant in the sport.
#hrf #humanrightsfoundation #Dissidents&Dictators
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Dissidents and Dictators: Exposing Human Rights Abuses
00:06:18 - Dire Human Rights Record in Qatar and Russia
00:13:17 - The Regime in Putin's Russia
00:19:57 - Arrest and Trial of Abdullah Ibis
00:27:29 - Threats and Intimidation in Qatar
00:34:21 - FIFA's Double Standards and Government Interference
00:41:26 - The Dark Side of Sports Whitewashing
00:47:49 - The Impact of Regime-Funded Football Clubs
00:54:02 - Human Rights Abusers in Football
01:00:11 - Gratitude
Learn more about our #Dissidents&Dictators podcast series: hrf.org/programs/dissidents-and-dictators
Learn more about our work at the Human Rights Foundation!
Website: hrf.org
X (formerly known as Twitter): twitter.com/HRF
Instagram: instagram.com/hrf
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hrf
Subscribe to HRF’s Substack: humanrightsfoundation.substack.com
Join us in promoting freedom where it’s most at risk!
Donate today: hrf.org/?form=donate
#WorldCup2022 #Qatar2022 #FIFACorruption #HumanRights #MigrantWorkers #FootballPolitics #SportsWashing #AuthoritarianRegimes #GianniInfantino #JosimarMagazine #InvestigativeJournalism #FootballReform #GrassrootsMovements #FootballsFuture #HumanRightsFoundation #NorwegianJournalism #ControversialHostSelection #RussiaWorldCup #QatarControversy #BoycottQatar2022 #EthicalSports #SoccerPolitics
