Gianni Infantino, president of the International Football Federation (FIFA), cited North Korea as an example to cover up the controversy over Qatar’s qualifications to host the World Cup and said, “Any country can host it.” RFA (Free Asia Broadcasting) reported that they expressed their position that they could not hold an international competition like the World Cup unless they abide by the rules.
Chairman Infantino said on the 19th that “North Korea can host the World Cup too,” as controversy arose over Qatar’s qualifications to host the World Cup due to the exploitation of foreign workers and discrimination against LGBTI people.
In response, international sports organizations and human rights activists are in the position that North Korea must first comply with international norms before hosting international competitions such as the World Cup.
James Fitzgerald, public relations officer for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) under the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said, “North Korea is currently classified as a ‘non-anti-doping compliant country’ and holds regional, continental, world championships or events organized by major event organizations. You may not be given the right to do it,” he said on the 21st.
Anthony Ruggiero, a senior researcher at the American Foundation for the Defense of Democracy (FDD), also said on the same day, “FIFA and other international organizations have to consider many things if they want to host an international competition in North Korea.” should not be held,” he said.
He pointed out that it was inappropriate that the moment when Chairman Infantino mentioned the possibility of hosting the World Cup in North Korea was the day after the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
In 2018, South Korea and North Korea announced their intention to co-host the 2030 Inter-Korean World Cup, but this has virtually collapsed due to the recent deterioration in inter-Korean relations due to North Korea’s missile provocation.@