This past April, soccer’s governing body, FIFA, announced a landmark partnership and sponsorship deal with the Saudi Arabian Oil Group, Aramco. Owned almost entirely by the Saudi Arabian government and the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), this collaboration between FIFA and Aramco marks another milestone in FIFA’s continued relationship with[Read More…]
Tag: Fifa
Qatar World Cup 2022: Notable moments from week one
Infantino’s unhinged defence of FIFA Off the pitch, in a bizarre defence of FIFA’s controversial decision to host the tournament in Qatar, FIFA president Gianni Infantino went on a 57-minute rant praising Qatar’s migrant worker policies and deflecting criticism of the human rights abuses that continue to unfold under FIFA’s[Read More…]
The 2022 World Cup and the murky ethics of sports consumption
On Nov. 20, the long-awaited FIFA World Cup will kick off in Qatar. Despite the excitement of fans worldwide, the 2022 World Cup has been rife with intense controversy. Qatar has been accused of devastating human rights violations against the workers who built the stadiums, and the country’s lack of[Read More…]
When money trumps morals: Do human rights have a place in the professional sports world?
On Feb. 25, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing agency of Formula 1, announced its decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix. The decision came after concern from both stakeholders and drivers following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The FIA also announced that Russian and Belarusian drivers would[Read More…]
In conversation with Shireen Ahmed
Shireen Ahmed, a Toronto-based activist and sports journalist, is a powerful voice in Canadian sports journalism. Her work covering stories about equity and inclusivity across various sports has been published in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, and SB Nation, among others. Ahmed values the role of social media in[Read More…]
Higher wages lead to change in NWSL draft classes
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) held its annual college draft on Jan. 16 in Chicago, and for the second year in a row, an underclassman was selected first overall. This year’s first pick was 19-year-old Sophia Smith, who, along with being the first teenager drafted into the NWSL, is[Read More…]
Point Counterpoint: Virtual Assistant Referees
Video assisted referee (VAR) was introduced to professional soccer in 2017, garnering mixed reactions from fans and players alike since. Some say it makes calls more accurate, while others argue that it disrupts the game. VAR disrupts the flow of the game Jack Armstrong Since the introduction of VAR[Read More…]
2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup preview
With the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup beginning today with a match between France and South Korea, the McGill Tribune breaks down the 24 competing teams and predicts how successful each will be at this year’s tournament. Group A France (FIFA Ranking: 4) The success of the men’s team in[Read More…]
Women’s soccer growing in Latin America despite lack of investment
Twelve years after they last appeared at the Women’s World Cup, the Argentine national women’s soccer team is back in the competition. It may seem obvious that they are going to the World Cup; after all, this is the same country that produced Messi and Maradona. The women in Argentina,[Read More…]
In conversation with Sylvie Béliveau
This fall, McGill Athletics appointed Sylvie Béliveau as a senior advisor to its varsity sports program in the first step of the Women In Sports initiative. The initiative is funded by a $3.5 million donation from McGill varsity hockey alumni Sheryl Kerr (BCom ’67) and David Kerr (BSc ’65). The[Read More…]