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In recent years, the term sportswashing has become more and more prevalent in the sports world.
Wikipedia defines sportswashing as “a term used to describe the practice of individuals, groups, corporations, or governments using sports to improve reputations tarnished by wrongdoing.”
Recent major examples include the Sochi Olympics in Russia or the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series. But perhaps no one, or no country, has been as brazen about its sportswashing as Qatar with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
And now it appears they’re not even trying to hide the plan.
Qatar To Pay For Fans 2022 FIFA World Cup Trips In Return For Positive Reviews
Qatar “won” the bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup over the US, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Two members of the 22-member FIFA executive committee were suspended before the vote even took place due to allegations of corruption.
Nonetheless, Qatar still won the bid amid a shroud of controversy.
The controversy only contined when the tournament had to be move from summer to winter due to high temperatures. The criticism increased after reports of the use of slave labor to build stadiums.
But Qatar pushed on. And now it appears they’ve got a plan in place to receive some good PR.
Bart H. Meijer of Retuers reports that the country will pay for fans’ flights and hotels in exchange for good PR.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) confirmed the policy of inviting groups of supporters to the finals as guests after reports by Dutch public broadcaster NOS, who said on Sunday that Qatar was paying for flights and hotels for a group of 50 Dutch fans. – via Reuters
The invited parties are expected to leave good reviews. But they’re also asked to report others fans who don’t do so.
In return these supporters have had to sign a ‘code of conduct’, urging them to post favourable comments about the tournament on social media and to report “any offensive, degrading or abusive comments” by others to the SC, preferably with screenshots.
The news serves as another black eye on a tournament already fully of them.