Bribery and corruption were behind Qatar being named the host nation of the World Cup in 2010. It is widely known by now that the country has significant shortcomings in human rights compliance and that thousands of guest workers lost their lives during the construction of infrastructure and football stadiums ahead of the championships to be played in November and December next year.
The men’s national team still has a good chance of qualifying, but in the event of a secured promotion, no further pressure is expected to get World Cup tickets, according to supporter organization Camp Sweden’s chairman Susanne Petersson.
– There will be a limited number of supporters who go there. We have not made a formal decision on how we do, but on the other hand we support those who are in place when there are major championships. There will probably be a representative (from Camp Sweden) on site, but no decision has been made yet because Sweden has not gone there, she says.
– “I fully understand those who want to stay home from the World Cup in Qatar,” says Camp Sweden’s chairman Susanne Petersson.
Foto: Peter Frennesson
Is it a widespread attitude among Swedish fans that they do not want to go for ethical reasons?
– There are many who will not go because of it. We know that. Normally it is a supporter and folk party, but it will not be the same this time at all.
How do you feel about that?
– It’s very boring. These championships are sportingly and in terms of supporters the best you can go to. It’s a wonderful experience to support your team on the spot. Then we want there to be as many supporters there as possible, says Susanne Petersson who, however, says she has full understanding for those who want to stay at home.
The image is only shared to a certain extent part of Andreas Richt who is CEO of the Yellow Wall, event organizer for Swedish national team sports. Fewer will want to go to the World Cup if Sweden gets there, but there will still be great support among blue and yellow fans on the spot, he emphasizes.
– In general, ordinary citizens have a good moral compass in Sweden, which will result in significantly fewer going to Qatar than a European Football Championship in Germany. It has not only to do with distance, but that Qatar has a tarnished reputation – but that it would be difficult to get Swedes there? No.
If Sweden reaches the World Cup, the Yellow Wall will be in place as usual to arrange accommodation and supporter activities.
Andreas Richt believes that it is not up to the supporters to decide on a boycott. Should SvFF, on the other hand, suddenly change its attitude and decide that the men’s national team will not be in the WC, it is a position that the Yellow Wall “backs every day of the week”.
– Even in our phalanx, there are many who think it is wrong that the World Cup is in Qatar. But if Sweden goes there, it will be full of yellow fans just as usual – albeit with a bit of a bitter aftertaste, says Andreas Richt.
– Yellow Wall CEO Andreas Richt, left, on site in St. Petersburg during this summer’s European Football Championship.
Photo: Erik Simander / TT
The FIFA World Cup in Qatar is described often as an example of “sportswashing”, ie when a country that does not respect human rights organizes major sporting events or sponsors teams and clubs in order to wash its reputation clean.
– Sportswashing, which they do, is not something we stand behind. We mean that it is not the Yellow Wall that will decide on a possible boycott that has been talked about a lot. It is the Swedish Football Association and perhaps mainly the government that should put its foot down and say that this is not something we can be part of, says Andreas Richt.
Do you not risk becoming part of just sportswashing by going there and participating in the football party?
– Absolutely, I agree. But then we come back to the question: Do we want to be part of the sportswashing? No, we do not want to be. But is it really the little Yellow Wall that will make that decision? Somewhere it has gone really wrong from the beginning when Qatar was awarded this championship through bribes. There was an opportunity to correct this, but now it’s too late. It is a hell of a lot that it is arranged there and there are many things in Qatar that do not rhyme with the Yellow Wall’s ethical and moral compass.
Will you go there yourself if Sweden goes to the World Cup?
– Wherever Sweden plays, I’m there. We go to all matches of a competitive nature, says Andreas Richt.
Read more:
The turning point: No Qatar camp for the national football team
Swedish clubs: Do not go to Qatar
The federation defends national team camps in Qatar
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