It’s a football uniform with a difference – it has a QR Code that, when scanned, directs users to a webpage to learn more about “sportswashing” issues. cleaning up the reputation of a group, person or country) and alleged human rights abuses surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The kit, which incorporates the QR Code and the colors of the Qatar flag, is being launched by Norwegian club Tromsø IL.
On its website, Tromsø said the uniform is “the first kit in history with a QR Code”.
The team will wear the uniform at home next Sunday for their last game of the season against Viking FC, Tromsø managing director Øyvind Alapnes told CNN.
“We feel it is our duty to speak out. If we don’t speak aloud for those who are not heard, who will?” added Alapnes.
“Many people in football are seduced by money and simply close their eyes to see where the money comes from.”
“Therefore, many do not risk defending something. We should dare to ask ourselves: is it okay for someone to die so that ‘my team’ can succeed?”
The QR Code uniform is a collaboration with the human rights organization Amnesty International and Malcolm Bidali, a former migrant worker detained in Qatar for blogging about conditions in the country.
“Qatar must not succeed in laundering sports,” said John Peder Egenæs, secretary general of Amnesty International Norway, in a statement.
“New stadiums with big spotlights and beautiful goals shouldn’t dazzle us so we don’t see what happens in the shadows,” added Egenæs.
With less than a year to go before the start of the 2022 World Cup, questions around how host country Qatar has dealt with humanitarian issues show little sign of abating – including those relating to the anti-homosexuality laws of the country. state and its treatment of migrant workers involved in the construction of World Cup stadiums.
FIFA and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs of Qatar did not immediately respond to the request for comments made by CNN.
In February, Tromsø IL proposed a boycott of the FIFA World Cup 2022 of the Norwegian Football Federation, while several teams, including Denmark, Germany and Norway, had already highlighted human rights issues ahead of the tournament.
Denmark was the last to do so after announcing that two uniform sponsors will relinquish brand space in the players’ training kit in lieu of messages highlighting human rights issues in Qatar.
The country’s football union also said it will minimize the number of trips to Qatar to avoid promoting events around the World Cup.
* Translated material. Read the complete original in English here.
Reference: CNN Brasil
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