The United Nations’ top human rights official has called for a “massive rethink” of immigration policies, especially in the United States, ahead of the World Cup.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk raised concerns on Wednesday before the 48-team tournament begins on Thursday.
He pointed to issues around “racial profiling, surveillance and immigration enforcement” during the build-up to the tournament.
There have already been several concerns before the World Cup starts. Iran’s team was moved from a training camp in Arizona to Mexico, while some Iranian officials were denied visas to enter the United States.
Africa’s top referee from Somalia was also refused entry in Miami. Images also circulated showing a Senegal player being searched by a security guard on an airport tarmac.
“We have seen some of the scenes,” Türk told reporters at a briefing at the U.N. human rights agency headquarters.
“I hope that the issues around racial profiling, around surveillance, around immigration enforcement are not going to affect this World Cup in the way that they have already done,” he said.
The United States is hosting most of the 104 matches in the tournament, which is being shared with Canada and Mexico.
However, the criticism has focused on policies from federal agencies under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
“I really hope that there is a massive rethink of how immigration enforcement is respecting human rights and human dignity,” Türk said.
He added that “especially for the World Cup” there should be a rethink of the policies currently being seen, particularly in the United States.
Türk said global sports should be a place “where the world comes together in unity and in peace.”
He also said major sports events, including the World Cup, need to provide a safe and dignified environment.
“It is clear that the environment in which mega sport events including the World Cup take place need to provide a dignified and safe environment, for the teams that compete but also for the supporters, for the whole society and frankly for the world,” he said.
Some fans from countries including Morocco and Scotland have also reported problems with travel documents. According to the reports, some supporters who spent thousands of dollars on flights, hotels and tickets had their documents denied or revoked just days before they were due to travel.
FIFA’s 2017 bidding rules for countries wanting to host this World Cup said visa processing “must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner.”
The rules also said this should not “adversely affect the national immigration and security standards.”
