Chelsea women’s captain Magda Eriksson has blasted Qatar’s regime over its homophobia, lack of women’s rights and the exploitation of migrant workers ahead of the men’s football World Cup in the country next year.
She also encouraged fellow footballers to voice their opinions.
Eriksson, 28, a Sweden international, said she was ‘uneasy’ about Qatar using the tournament to promote a positive image when it has been accused of human rights abuses.
Magda Eriksson, 28, a Sweden international, said she was ‘uneasy’ about Qatar using the tournament to promote a positive image when it has been accused of human rights abuses
‘I look at it as a gay woman who would never choose to go on holiday to a country like Qatar where homosexuality is illegal,’ she told the i newspaper.
A number of top players and pundits including former England star Gary Lineker were accused of failing speak up about civil rights in authoritarian Gulf states before the tournament.
Unmarried girls and women under 25 years old are prohibited from leaving Qatar, unless accompanied by their male relatives.
After winning the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup Final match, Chelsea Women won the Continental Tyres League Cup.
Human rights activists claim that Qatari migrants have killed more than 6,500 workers from South Asia over the past decade. They were many of the ones who helped to construct stadiums and infrastructure for this World Cup.
Eriksson said: ‘Perhaps the most important thing we footballers can do is talk about the situation there – for the sake of the workers who’ve had no voice. When teams like England, and hopefully Sweden, qualify for the World Cup, I would genuinely encourage them to speak up if they do want to say something as in that way at least something good might come of this.’
Eriksson was in a long-term relationship since 2014 with Pernille, Pernille’s Chelsea team-mate. Pernille is a Denmark International. The couple are both outspoken advocates for gay rights.