– When a major power comes with a message, it is talked about absolutely all over the world. It was only a few seconds, but those seconds can mean a lot for the future. I hope so. That’s what Tom Høgli, former soccer player and social contact at TIL, says. He was one of those who started the “Qatar uprising” in Norwegian football, and believes that the focus before and during the World Cup has made people more aware of the situation in the country. Tom Høgli, former footballer and public relations officer at TIL, hopes the markings will make a difference. Photo: Christian Kråkenes/news On Wednesday, the German national team showed their displeasure with covering their mouths before the match with Japan. Høgli believes that messages like this are heard all the way up in the football world and will leave their mark. But Harry Arne Solberg, professor at NTNU School of Economics and expert on international sports events, doubts that the message will spread outside Europe. Criminal in 68 countries – What is missing a little in this debate is that we Europeans are much more concerned with these things than large parts of the rest of the world, says Solberg. This applies, among other things, to the rights of homosexuals. Solberg points out that it is still illegal to be gay in 68 countries, according to an overview from Amnesty. Only one of these countries is in Europe. At the same time that European countries have been critical of events in FIFA over the years, it has been normal practice in many other countries. Among other things, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter was allowed to keep his position even though he was accused of gross corruption for several years. – If you go outside Europe, corruption is unfortunately quite common. It is part of everyday life, says Solberg. Still important The NTNU professor believes that the actions taken during the World Cup are both good and important, and sees the focus around Qatar positively. – These things would not get anywhere near as much attention as they do without the World Cup. Since 2000, Qatar has had almost 30 international championships, but there has been minimal focus on what happens in the country before this year’s World Cup. – I think Norway has helped to start something that is really on its way to establishing itself out there, says Høgli. Tom Høgli, former footballer and public relations officer at TIL, hopes the markings will make a difference. Photo: Christer Johnsgård / news He believes Norway should be proud that discussions about the World Cup in Qatar have been going on for several years, and that it has helped to put a global focus on the problem. Høgli points out that several countries have become involved, and that it is getting more space in the media all over the world. – There is no doubt that the debate and discussions that have taken place both in Norway and internationally have led to far more focus on the things that take place outside the football field down there. Fair to see Høgli has criticized FIFA and the working conditions in Qatar for several years. In the past, he has also called for a boycott of this year’s WC together with TIL, but changed his mind in 2021 after a report from the “Qatar committee” in the NFF. In 2021, TIL launched its own uniform in a campaign against sports laundering and the WC in Qatar. They were also the first team to officially qualify for the World Cup. TIL’s Qatar kit has a QR code that leads to the club’s Qatar page. Photo: Tromsø sports club Nevertheless, Høgli thinks it’s fine to watch the games if you want to. – If you watch the World Cup, it does not mean at all that you do not care about human rights, he emphasizes. At the same time, Høgli believes that most people who watch the WC have negative associations with this year’s event. – Then Qatar has not succeeded here in the country in creating the impression that everything is fine and dandy down there.
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Professor doubts that Qatar protests will change the football world – news Troms and Finnmark
