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Get the latest news and updates from our partners on the human rights issues in and around the world of sport.
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FIFA: Keep the World in the World Cup
Football belongs to the world. FIFA is planning the biggest World Cup ever: 48 teams, matches in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and billions watching around the world. FIFA has promised a safe, welcoming and ‘inclusive’ tournament through its Human Rights Framework. But under U.S. President Donald Trump, harsh anti-human […]
Olympics: Sex Testing Harms All Women and Girls
International Olympic Committee has no right to become ‘gender police’ of the world (Amsterdam, March 17, 2026) – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) should abandon potential plans to mandate genetic sex testing and ban transgender and intersex athletes, the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA), ILGA World, Humans of Sport and over 100 other allied organizations […]
Failures in Brazilian Football Expose Culture of Misogyny and Abuse
Persistent risks for women and children in Brazilian sport (Sao Paulo, March 6, 2026) — Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day, renewed attention must be paid to the persistent risks facing women and children in the world of sports. Nowhere is this more pertinent than in Brazil, set to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s […]
Olympics: Uphold human rights for all athletes
Requesting clarification on the IOC Working Group on Women’s Category The Sport & Rights Alliance has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the IOC Working Group on the “protection of the female category” and potential decisions to implement mandatory sex testing and a blanket ban on transgender and intersex athletes in the women’s […]
Iran: Letter to IOC re Iranian athletes facing political execution
Urgent IOC action required to protect Iranian athletes facing political execution The Sport & Rights Alliance has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding boxer and coach Mohammad Javad Vafaei Sani who is at risk of imminent execution amid an ongoing horrifying escalation of executions in Iran. Read the full letter below. **Update: On […]
SAFER Handbook: Football Supporters Europe publishes project outcomes and good practices
SAFER – Support & Awareness for Female fans in European football through Research, prevention, and remedy Football Supporters Europe is delighted to share the handbook from its SAFER (Support & Awareness for Female fans in European football through Research, prevention, and remedy) project. Download the SAFER handbook here. About the project SAFER, a Football Supporters Europe project supported by the […]
FIFA’s Ticketing Policy is Excluding Fans With Disabilities From the 2026 World Cup
On 15 December, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and its Disability & Inclusion Fan Network wrote to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to condemn FIFA’s accessible ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup, which is effectively excluding supporters with disabilities from the tournament. FIFA has restricted accessibility tickets for National Team fans (PMA allocation) to Categories 1–3, […]
FIFA World Cup 2026: BWI Concludes First Official Visit to the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, Mexico
As part of the new BWI–FIFA Cooperation Agreement, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) conducted an official mission to Monterrey on 25 and 27 November, one of the three Mexican host cities of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in North America. The BWI delegation included representatives from its Mexican affiliate CIT, Unite the […]
Breaking: Algerian court upholds seven-year prison sentence against French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes in appalling decision
On 3 December, the Tizi Ouzou Court of Appeal upheld the seven-year prison sentence handed down to French journalist Christophe Gleizes, prolonging proceedings that have already lasted 18 months. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the journalist’s support committee express their outrage at this ruling against an experienced, highly recognised media professional who was simply doing […]
World Cup 2026: FIFA Needs to Act on Human Rights
As FIFA Awards “Peace Prize,” Coalition Calls for Concrete Protections for Workers, Athletes, Fans, Journalists, and Children (Washington, DC, December 3, 2025) – FIFA, the international soccer governing body, needs to match its lofty rhetoric on rights with concrete action, a coalition of human rights organizations, trade unions, and fans groups said today. FIFA is […]
US: ICE Arrest at FIFA Event Spotlights Dangers for World Cup
Asylum Seeker Detained, Returned to Country of Origin (New York) – The arrest and return of an asylum seeker who took his children to the Club World Cup soccer tournament final on July 13, 2025, raises serious concerns about the safety of noncitizens attending the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. In […]
Brazil: Ensure Justice for Children Killed in Flamengo Fire
Case Underscores Urgent Need for Safeguarding, Reforms at Training Centers (Rio de Janeiro, November 24, 2025) – Reports that alleged systemic failures at Brazil’s top football club led to the deaths of 10 child athletes in a fire in 2019 raise critical questions about safeguarding and accountability in Brazilian sport, the Sport & Rights Alliance […]