UEFA set itself a goal of ending racism in European soccer by 2030 as part of a human rights and environmental strategy...

Other long-term targets include “zero episodes” of child abuse, embedding rights principles into all strategic decisions, reach "net zero carbon by 2040 … collaboratively across European football,” and eliminating plastic waste.

The Sports & Rights Alliance group distanced itself from involvement with a project it said “places human rights solely as a public relations matter.”

The commitment to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 was stressed on the day UEFA acknowledged plans to add 10 South American national teams to its second-tier European competition in 2024, causing more inter-continental travel.

It would be the latest tournament expansion for European teams, which often travel by private charter flight to UEFA-organized international games.

UEFA’s own European Championship this year saw repeated incidents of anti-gay and racist incidents involving Hungary fans.

The same stadium in Budapest hosts the Europa League final in 2023, and the Sport & Rights Alliance pointed to issues with “press freedom and journalists’ protection” there and also in Russia and Turkey, which host the next two Champions League finals.