Saudi Arabia was awarded the 2034 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday at a digital Fifa congress. There were no competing bids. – We feel that development is going in the wrong direction. That is what Håkon Haugli, managing director of Innovation Norway, says to news. The state-owned company’s task is to, among other things, “contribute to innovation in business” and profile Norwegian business. In 2023, they contributed NOK 7.1 billion to development and innovation in business. Fifa president Gianni Infantino confirms that Saudi Arabia will host the soccer World Cup in 2034. But that will happen to a small extent in the country that was chosen on Wednesday to host the soccer World Cup in 2034. – We will not be proactive in the future in to take Norwegian companies to Saudi Arabia, says Haugli. – It’s about our experience, and the more we work on it, the more demanding it really is. The situation is changing, and it is getting more difficult, continues the business leader. Håkon Haugli in Innovation Norway believes that developments in Saudi Arabia are going in the wrong direction. Photo: Hilde Nilsson Ridola / news Growing market He says this, knowing that Saudi Arabia and Norway have a relatively close cooperation through, among other things, the energy and seafood industries. According to figures from the Government, the value of Norwegian exports is over NOK 2 billion. Last year alone, the Saudis imported Norwegian salmon for NOK 755 million, an increase of NOK 315 million in just two years. Saudi Arabia imports more and more Norwegian salmon. Photo: NTB Nevertheless, Innovation Norway does not recommend that more companies try their luck in the desert state. They are themselves present in the area through a local office in Dubai. – The companies are experiencing more and more that there are demanding human rights issues, they have to take a position on monitoring, employee rights and authorities that intervene in what is happening. – It is demanding for the companies, and puts the long-term nature of the investment in a different light, says Haugli. Amnesty is critical of the World Cup bids – In both tournaments there is a significant risk that human rights violations may be committed, says Frank Conde Tangberg. He is a political adviser at Amnesty, and is strongly critical of a number of matters. – In Morocco’s development of infrastructure, there is a high percentage of accidents and weak HSE rules. In Spain, Spanish newspapers have revealed that migrant workers have been exploited in connection with the development of Camp Nou (Barcelona’s home ground). There is also a big problem with racism in the stands in both Portugal and Spain, he says. – Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is a high-risk proposition. Fifa has assessed it as a medium risk in terms of human rights. It’s absolutely ridiculous. About 80 percent of the private sector in Saudi Arabia are migrant workers. These are systematically exploited and discriminated against, Conde Tangberg believes. In Saudi Arabia, there is an absolute monarchy, and the country is practically ruled by a small family. There is no freedom of speech, no freedom of assembly, women have very few rights compared to men and there is a death penalty for homosexuality. Source: Amnesty news has been in contact with Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Oslo. They wanted to have the questions sent by e-mail. The embassy has not answered it. The NFF gives criticism That the football World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia in ten years’ time has long been clear, but during an extraordinary, digital Fifa congress on Wednesday it became official. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman together with Fifa President Gianni Infantino. Photo: ALEXEY DRUZHININ / AFP It was the same that the football World Cup in 2030 will be played in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. The election did not take place through ordinary voting, but digital acclamation. – It was a special congress. The host nations were given in advance, but we, like all other federations, were unsure of the detailed voting procedures right up to the start of the congress. This in itself is problematic, says football president Lise Klaveness in a statement to TV 2 and VG after the award. Klaveness did not participate in the acclamation. She believes the process surrounding the selection of the host countries has been messy. – Refraining from voting is a conscious signal that we cannot support Fifa’s approach, she told news on Tuesday. Football president Lise Klaveness is very critical of the process surrounding the selection of host nations for the World Cup in 2030 and 2034. Photo: Per Sveinung Larsen / news The football president is clear that the way the World Cup organizers for 2030 and 2034 have been chosen is not in line with Fifa’s own reforms that were promised when Gianni Infantino was elected president in 2016. The NFF’s criticism was read out by Fifa’s general secretary Mattias Grafström: The Norwegian Football Association’s criticism was read out during Fifa’s extraordinary congress. – Football democracy on a bed of soot Shortly after the congress, the awarding of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups naturally made headlines. “The WC parody is complete”, writes VG commentator Leif Welhaven about the award. Welhaven says to news that he believes the Norwegian Football Association deserves praise for their handling of the awards. – It may well be that we don’t get much out of it, but if we are not going to stand up against fake processes and a football democracy on a bed of soot after a process like this, when are we going to do it? asks Welhaven in the Dagsnytt 18 studio. RIGHT TO STAND AGAINST: VG commentator Leif Welhaven believes it was right for the NFF to react against Fifa. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt also praises the statement from the NFF, but believes it could affect Norway negatively later on. – It was a thorough and courageous process, I am also not sure that it was tactical in terms of having real influence in such situations going forward, says Saltvedt. “It’s hard not to laugh at the spectacle,” says the prominent football commentator Olof Lundh about Fifa president Gianni Infantino. At the same time, Lundh praises that Norway is the only country that has the courage to protest against the process. The Fifa president: – Historic day Fifa president Gianni Infantino says this is a “historic day” for football. – Social improvements and positive human rights are something a world championship is responsible for. Today is a celebration for community, the football president stated, among other things. The English Football Association writes in a press release that they will work with Fifa and Uefa to ensure that human rights are safeguarded when the upcoming championships are to be organised. – We are aware of criticism and concerns. I have full confidence in our hosts to address every part of this process, and deliver a World Cup that meets the world’s expectations,” said Infantino. The FIFA World Cup in 2030 was awarded to Spain, Portugal and Morocco by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, in addition to Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay each hosting a single match. Published 11.12.2024, at 17.33 Updated 11.12.2024, at 18.58
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Innovation Norway about the World Cup country: – Will not be proactive
