The complaint, submitted through FIFA's official online grievance reporting system on Thursday, was initiated by Mark Pieth, FIFA's former anti-corruption advisor, alongside Swiss lawyer Stefan Wehrenberg and British barrister Rodney Dixon.
According to the legal team, their offers to advise FIFA on ensuring human rights compliance were disregarded prior to the uncontested confirmation of Saudi Arabia as the 2034 host in December.
"Widespread Abuses" Alleged in 30-Page Filing
In their 30-page document, the lawyers assert that "widespread human rights abuses continue to be perpetrated in Saudi Arabia, and no steps are being taken by FIFA to address these in the buildup to the World Cup." They further express concern that "instead, it appears it is business as usual with no changes to be made."
The timing of the complaint coincides with FIFA's first annual congress of its 211 member federations since the controversial hosting decision. Adding to the scrutiny, FIFA President Gianni Infantino was expected to make a late arrival at the congress in Paraguay after participating in a state visit to Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has consistently maintained its commitment to increasing freedoms as part of its "Vision 2030" program aimed at modernizing its society and economy.
Infantino's Close Ties and Previous Host Nation Scrutiny
Notably, Infantino has cultivated increasingly close ties between FIFA's financial and political operations and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a trend that predates the 2018 World Cup.
Following his time in Saudi Arabia, Infantino reportedly held meetings in neighboring Qatar, the host nation for the 2022 World Cup. Qatar faced intense international criticism for a decade regarding its human rights record and the treatment of migrant workers involved in the massive construction projects required for the tournament.
Concerns Over Migrant and Women's Rights
Saudi Arabia has embarked on a similarly large-scale construction program in preparation for the expanded 2034 World Cup, which will feature more teams and games, necessitating more stadiums with ambitious designs.
The lawyers' complaint specifically highlights Saudi Arabia's "appalling human rights record, including violations relating to freedom of expression, arbitrary arrest, detention and mistreatment, migrants’ rights and women’s rights" as reasons for concern over its selection as host.
FIFA's Human Rights Policy Under Scrutiny
FIFA's own human rights policy, established in 2017, mandated that bidders for the men’s 2026 World Cup respect international human rights and labor standards as outlined by the United Nations' guiding principles.
In a recent communication to Human Rights Watch, which recently detailed alleged abuses of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, FIFA affirmed its "steadfast commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights in the context of its operations."
Despite these assurances, the legal complaint urges FIFA to recognize that "there remains an opportunity for meaningful reforms in Saudi Arabia, driven by the implementation of FIFA’s obligations under its policy." The lawyers are challenging FIFA to actively ensure its human rights standards are upheld in the lead-up to the 2034 World Cup.