Zurich, Switzerland – Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has joined a growing chorus of calls to boycott the World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States,
in protest against the policies and statements of US President Donald Trump, which he described as “undermining human and sporting values.”
The former football official, in comments reported by international media, said that football cannot be separated
from the principles of justice, openness, and respect for others,
arguing that hosting a global tournament the size of the World Cup should reflect a spirit of tolerance, not become a divisive political platform.
He added that immigration policies and hostile rhetoric towards minorities and immigrants raise real concerns
about the safety of the fans and participating teams, stressing that silence on these issues “constitutes unacceptable complicity.”
These statements coincided with calls from human rights organizations and fan groups in Europe
and Latin America to reconsider holding the tournament in the United States,
or at least to establish clear legal guarantees to protect players and fans from any discrimination.
In contrast, FIFA has yet to issue an official comment, while American sources maintain
that sports should remain separate from political disputes.
These developments threaten to ignite an early global controversy surrounding the World Cup,
at a time when the focus should be on organizational and sporting aspects, not political and human rights clashes.
