UK: Amnesty Intl. warns of continued "sportswashing" ahead of possible Qatari investment in Tottenham Hotspurs
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"Amnesty hopes talk of Spurs takeover by Qatar proves 'wake-up call' to league," 12 Jan 2023
The Premier League has been told to urgently tighten up its ownership rules amid talk Qatar Sports Investments are interested in purchasing a minority stake in Tottenham.
Human rights group Amnesty International wants this week’s reports regarding a meeting between Spurs chairman, Daniel Levy, and the QSI chairman, Nasser al-Khelaifi, to act as a “wake-up call” for the Premier League after the controversial Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle in 2021...
The Premier League met Amnesty last year regarding implementing a human rights component into the owners’ and directors’ test that would be objective, but any changes are not yet at a stage where they would be ready to be voted through...
Nevertheless, Amnesty has warned any possible Qatari investment in Spurs would be more potential sportswashing...
As we know from the World Cup, Qatar is intensely involved in the use of sport to refashion its image on the international stage, and Qatar’s possible involvement with Tottenham should be seen in this context – as more potential sportswashing. With the Qatari authorities basking in the glory of the ‘best ever’ World Cup, there’s a danger that limited reforms on migrant workers’ rights will quickly unravel and the repression of LGBTQ+ people and women will be overlooked as Qatar’s involvement in sport helps it avoid scrutiny on its lamentable human rights record.Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK's economic affairs director