World Cup: Know the Score

With the FIFA World Cup underway in Qatar, University of Reading students and staff are leading discussions about the controversial sporting event.

University-owned venues and bars used by students are showing games live throughout the competition, including Park Bar at Whiteknights, and The Dairy at London Road campuses.

At venues showing the games, the University is encouraging football fans to watch the match – but also to ‘know the score’ about the controversies surrounding the competition.

Students are being encouraged to enjoy the on-field action, but also strike up conversations and learn about the issues around human rights, and the financial, social and environmental costs of the World Cup in Qatar.

Dr Allán Laville, Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Reading, said the competition was considered controversial, due to the treatment of workers employed to build and staff venues, as well as the record of human rights towards minority groups in Qatar.

Dr Laville said: “If we are going to see positive change as a result of this World Cup and think about human rights violations in Qatar and more broadly, in other nations in the world, I think we need to first understand what are the issues themselves, then to engage in educated conversations with one another, and then to think about what we can do to support change and very much being an ally and not a bystander.”

Students’ Union decision

Reading University Students’ Union (RUSU) has decided not to screen games at their venues at Whiteknights, which includes Mojo’s bar, which would usually show live sport.

The RUSU decision was taken after discussions among elected officers, and with the understanding that University-owned venues would be offering alternative venues where students could watch the football on campus.

Students can join the discussion in the RUSU building at a special display highlighting issues and calling for responses to the debate.

In a statement on the RUSU website, the RUSU officers said: “We believe we need to take a stand to make it clear that we are completely against human rights abuses and violations, corruption, exploitation of workers leading to injuries and death and the environmental cost of this World Cup. And, that we are for LGBTQ+ and women’s rights.

“However you choose to respond personally we hope you will understand our decision to take our responsibility to represent all students seriously by standing up for the things we believe in and calling out things that aren’t right or fair.”