🌏 Global advocacy coalition of NGOs & trade unions
✊ Raising the bar for sport, human rights & transparency
📢 Follow for news, research & ways to take action
🚨 The IOC should prohibit 🇳🇱Dutch volleyball player Steven van de Velde, a convicted child sex offender, from participating at
#Paris2024
.
Statement by the Sport & Rights Alliance Athletes Network for Safer Sports,
@survivorsarmy
, &
@kyniskaadvocacy
⤵️
Breaking:
#FIFA
have announced the UAE will host the Club World Cup in "early 2022."
By awarding a major tournament to the
#UAE
without prior human rights consultation or due diligence, FIFA is once again in breach of its own human rights commitments in the bidding process.
🧵
🚨🚨🚨
#FIFA
& the Spanish Federation should take immediate action to address the abuse & harassment of athletes on full display at the
#WorldCupFinal
– including the concerns raised by the 15 Spanish players last year.
Athletes must be protected & respected, on & off the field.
🚨The
#IOC
is about to host the
@Olympics
in a country where a star athlete has just gone missing after speaking out about sexual abuse.
This is unacceptable. It's time for
@iocmedia
to step up & protect athletes from oppressive governments.
#PengShuai
🚨In 2021, a teen basketball player in
#Mali
blew the whistle on a coach's pattern of sexual abuse & got kicked off the national team.
After 2 years,
@FIBA
has still yet to bring justice for her & other survivors—or ban all abusers involved.
👉
@Journo_K
#NouhailaBenzina
was the first-ever hijab-wearing player to grace the pitch at the
#FIFAWWC
for Morocco's 🇲🇦 debut.
Yet many other women athletes still face hijab bans in sport, which violate their right to play. Keep reading to learn more 🧵⬇️
#WorldCupQatar2022
: journalists + fans have been refrained from entering stadiums with 🏳️🌈 hats, shirts, flags &
#FIFA
banned footballers' shirts and armbands alluding to the
#LGBTQ
community (and even just the word "love"). Solidarity gestures should be protected, not censored.
"But it is not just about a kiss.
"It is about women and girls feeling safe to play a sport they love...
"It is about the other survivors, like those in Haiti, Afghanistan & Zambia, who got very little attention from football media..."
@_shireenahmed_
The
@iocmedia
backpedals on
#WhereIsPengShuai
, saying "We can’t give assurances & we don’t know the full facts."
That has been clear from the start. It's time for the
@Olympics
to stop enabling
#China
's cover-up & start behaving responsibly.
📣 Incredible news: A large group of
#AfghanWomen
athletes have evacuated the country & will take refuge in
#Australia
.
“Women's football is a family & we must make sure everyone is safe."
@khalida_popal
Full statement from
@FIFPRO
👉
❌
#GenderEquity
is not something women should have to fight for alone. And it's not something
@FIFAcom
should have to be convinced of.
#FIFA
has the power. FIFA has the resources. And as head of global ⚽️, FIFA has the responsibility.
#OnAndOffTheField
🗣️Research by
@hrw
found that sports rules that encourage discrimination, surveillance & coerced medical intervention on women athletes result in physical + psychological injury & economic hardship.
🔗Full report:
#Paris2024
#IOC
#ImaneKhelif
🚨 Almost exactly 3 years since the Taliban takeover,
#ManizhaTalash
was disqualified from
#Paris2024
after she competed wearing a cape that said “Free Afghan Women.”
The
#SRA
calls for the disqualification to be overturned and remedied.
Full statement⬇️
🚨🚨🚨
#Beijing2022
will be remembered for the IOC’s complete disregard for human rights –
@iocmedia
must act now to ensure it never happens again.
Full
#SRA
letter to
#IOC
President Thomas Bach⬇️
🏀 All Muslim women & girls should be able to play sport free from discrimination.
This
#InternationalWomensDay
, the
#SRA
joins athletes worldwide calling on
@ffbasketball
&
@FIBA
to end the hijab ban in French basketball. ✊
Full
#SRA
statement 👉
Good news:
@FIFAcom
launches probe into racist and homophobic chants by 🇦🇷Argentina players, after a complaint by the 🇫🇷French Football Federation.
via
@FRANCE24
"Athletes who have faced death threats & lost career opportunities to get sexual abusers out of basketball, are now seeing them get promoted + empowered instead of punished."
@MinkysHighjinks
@hrw
Full video & statement👉
#Mali
@FIBA
@Olympics
🚨 New report from
@mollyhc
at
@washingtonpost
shows how
@FIFAcom
has repeatedly mishandled claims of abuse—revealing identities, promoting abusers—causing a 'chilling effect' that keeps other victims from speaking up.
Read it here👉
#WWCNow
#FIFAWWC
Thank you
#WorldCup
Champion
@rai10oficial
⚽️ &
#Olympic
medalist
@anabmoser
🏐 for supporting our campaign to establish a global hotline for athletes facing abuse ✊
@iocmedia
- it’s time to answer the call. Open a safe hotline today. ☎️
Learn more 👉
🚨🚨🚨
#UEFA
should live up to its human rights responsibilities & urgently address the gaps & inconsistencies in its new Football Sustainability Strategy 2030 released yesterday, the
#SRA
said today.
Full statement 👉
The journalist
@Romain_Molina
received death threats and legal persecution after publishing in 2020 an investigation on the sexual abuse of minors by Yves Jean-Bart, the president of the Haitian Football Federation.
🚨 The Women's Tennis Association has confirmed
@WTA
Finals to be held in
#SaudiArabia
for the next 3 years.
This despite major rights abuses—incl. imprisonment of women's fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi for tweeting in support of women's rights.
👉
In her opening keynote at
#ptg2024
, SRA Network Coordinator Joanna Maranhão explains why sparking change in sport must start with the voices of people with lived experience.
@Jujuca1987
🚨🚨🚨 The wrestlers of India are risking their lives & careers to stand up to sexual abuse in their sport. We call on the
@Olympics
to stand with them – and ensure a transparent, independent & impartial investigation.
👉
#ProtectAthletes
#WrestlerProtest
At least eight of 32 team squads qualified for the
#WWC
have a team captain who is
#LGBTI
+ and will not be allowed to use the rainbow armband.
For teams like
#Brazil
, representation is especially important ⬇️
🔗
Good news as
#euro2024
in Germany kicks off: for the first time at a
@UEFA
event, there is a Reporting Channel for
#HumanRights
incidents.
You can now report discrimination, violence or any other risky situation online in 39 languages:
The historic
#EqualPay
agreement achieved today by the
@USWNT
shows that the clock is running out on inequality in sport⏱
It's time to ensure equality for EVERY worker who makes sport possible✊
@FIFAWorldCup
, you're next⚽️
#FairPlayFIFA2026
@aflcio
🚨 An independent investigator recommended immediate suspension for
#Gabon
's football president—but
@FIFAcom
has yet to act.
Held in police custody for ~6 months, the president faces trial in Gabon for failing to report sexual abuse by multiple coaches.
Despite
#FIFA
's attempts to silence free expression, the athletes of the
#WorldCup
are still making history for LGBTI+ rights, inclusion & representation 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️⚧️
Follow
@Sport_Rights
for more on gender equity & LGBTI+ rights around the 2023 World Cup
#OnAndOffTheField
⚽️
Days after
#SalmaAlShehab
gets 34 years in prison for tweets, Saudi Arabia Sports Minister says the country is "progressing" & eyes the
@Olympics
.
The
#IOC
must fight against sportswashing strategies & hold countries accountable to empty claims.
⚽️ "The Women's World Cup is a festival of soccer & a celebration of the skill + diversity within the women's game—not an opportunity to launder the reputation of a government that violates women's rights."
@MinkysHighjinks
@hrw
#FIFA
@FIFAWWC
@FIFAcom
🚨"The gymnasts say that the
@USOPC_News
'took no investigative action after learning that Nassar was an abuser,' & continued to list him as an approved medical provider even though he had been allowed to quietly resign from
@USAGym
."
⚽️Last week, Iranian authorities prevented dozens of women from attending a
#WorldCup
qualifier. Social media videos showed some were attacked w/ pepper spray.
@FIFA
must support Iranian women & stop members from violating FIFA's own rules.
@hrw
report⬇️
#SifanHassan
made history. Then, she left
#France
+ the
@IOCmedia
with a powerful message: Muslim women & girls belong in sport.✊
Learn more about France's discriminatory hijab bans & join us in demanding
#equalaccess
for ALL women & girls ⬇️
🔗
🥊 Khelif & Yu-Ting have participated in the women’s category for many years, including the
#Tokyo2020
Olympics, IBA World Championships + other IBA-sanctioned tournaments.
Full
#SRA
statement ➡️
#ImaneKhelif
#Paris2024
🏳️⚧️Trans women & girls are highly under-represented at all levels of sport — and also face high levels of stigma, harassment & discrimination.
All women & girls should have access to the life-changing benefits of sport.✊
#WomensHistoryMonth
#TransDayOfVisibility
#LetKidsPlay
@Jujuca1987
“But the fight continues. In sports & beyond, we must work to ensure every child survivor, no matter when they report, is heard, believed & listened to—and to ensure every abuser is held accountable.”
@jujuca1987
, SRA Network Coordinator
The Sport & Rights Alliance stands in solidarity with
#Ukraine
and the Ukrainian people and calls on
#Russia
to respect international human rights and humanitarian law.
Humanity should be prioritized and civilian lives, livelihoods and infrastructure should be protected.
The rules for
#Paris2024
are based on those in place at Tokyo 2020 & before the
#IBA
was suspended by the IOC in 2019.
✅The
@IOCmedia
has made clear the boxers are not in violation of any
#Olympics
eligibility criteria.
Full
#SRA
statement ➡️
#boxing
We stand with
#Vinicius
, who has fought tirelessly for his right to play without being subjected to racist abuse & harassment ✊
Sport leaders must stop making athletes bear the burden of fixing sport's systemic problems. It's time for real change.
📌
📢Hijab bans in 🇫🇷French sport expose discriminatory double standards ahead of
#Paris2024
Olympic and Paralympic Games.
IOC (
@Olympics
) response to joint letter calling on lifting of hijab ban is dismissive and inadequate, says
@amnesty
in new report⤵️
🚨 Saudi Arabia is now the sole bidder to host the 2034
@FIFAcom
Men's World Cup, & Morocco-Portugal-Spain the only one for 2030.
#FIFA
needs to ensure human rights guarantees are secured.
Full
#SRA
statement ⬇️
Over 80 athletes, including
#WNBA
star Breanna Stewart &
#Olympian
Ibitihaj Muhammad, wrote to
@ffbasketball
&
@FIBA
in an open letter today in solidarity with the women & girls disproportionately affected by headwear restrictions in
#France
.
👉
Brittney Griner made a direct appeal to President Biden for her freedom in a letter on Monday.
The WNBA star has been detained in Russia for 137 days.
More:
🚨🚨🚨 With only
#100days
left until the 2024 Paris Olympic & Paralympic Games, we call on
#France
+ French sports federations to overturn all hijab bans & stop discriminating against Muslim women + girls.
👉
#Paris2024
#Olympics
#100days
🏅Kids in
#Japan
—and worldwide—should not suffer physical, verbal or sexual abuse when training for sport!
✊🏽While the world watches the
#Tokyo2020
, it’s time for Japan to establish a Safe Sport Center.
➡️TAKE ACTION:
#AthletesAgainstAbuse
@hrw
We are devastated to hear of the sudden passing of
@GrantWahl
, an incredible sports journalist who covered much more than just the game.
He will always be remembered by his boldness & passion for the values of sport, the people impacted by it & their human rights ⚽️
🛑"The only thing worse than not having a place to report is having a system that is not capable to deal adequately with grievances."
@AndreaFlorence4
on the endemic sexual violence in sport & what is required for truly effective Safe Sport entities at
#ptg2022
@playthegame_org
🚨A petition with over **1 million signatures** has been delivered to
@FIFAcom
by SRA partner
@amnesty
+
@Avaaz
demanding that FIFA compensate migrant workers who suffered human rights abuses working on the 2022 Men's
#WorldCup
in Qatar.
#FIFACongress
The World Cup may be over, but our campaign to get justice for the migrant workers who suffered to make it happen, continues.
Check out our visit to the
@FifaMuseum
to ask that they make sure workers' stories are told, and their demands for justice met.
#PayUpFIFA
🙌 The SRA is excited to officially launch the Athletes Network for Safer Sports.
Our mission is to create & strengthen safe spaces for people impacted by abuse in sport to further healing, amplify each other’s voices & advocate for systemic change.🌏
➡️
On International Day of Sport for Development & Peace, former Haiti National Footballer Baraya Louis & other survivors of abuse are calling on
#FIFA
to ensure
#SafeSport
, remedy & justice ✊
Sign the petition👉
#IDSDP
@FIFAcom
#AthletesAgainstAbuse
We honor the achievements of advocates throughout the years to end exploitation & protect survivors – including Law Joanna Maranhão, named for our incredible colleague
@jujuca1987
& her fight to ensure victims have access to justice and the chance to hold abusers accountable. ✊
🚨 Our new report, "We have to empower each other," presents findings from trauma-informed focus groups w/ 25 athlete survivors.
Read what they said about the need for a global network to facilitate greater connection, exchange, advocacy & support👇
🚨🚨🚨 Today,
#FIFA
President Gianni Infantino announced the
#ClubWorldCup
will be set in
#Morocco
.
As we stated last year, awarding a major tournament without prior human rights consultation or due diligence puts
@FIFAcom
in breach of its own human rights commitments.
"They were so worried about losing powerful sponsors, but the backlash from this campaign was even more powerful."
@DrewPavlou
Tennis Australia has rightly reversed its decision to ban
#WhereIsPengShuai
t-shirts at the
#AusOpen
✊
✊We stand with
@OpenStadiums
& the women of Iran rising up for freedom, justice & basic human rights.
It's time
@FIFAcom
& President Infantino pay attention to the brutal oppression of women, fans & activists in
#Iran
— and take action before the 2022
#FIFAWorldCup
⬇️
🚨 "Gymnastics Ireland, the sport’s national governing body, did not make any commitment in public statements to investigate the incident, implement anti-racism policies, or improve protection for athletes of colour."
FIFA President Infantino visited DC this month to ask U.S. to expedite visas & other logistics for
#2026WorldCup
, despite
@FIFAcom
's worrying delays on 2026
#HumanRights
framework.
#Dignity2026
is watching closely for proof of
#FIFA
’s commitment to protect workers & communities.
#FIFA
has established which armbands & political slogans can be used during the 2023 World Cup—but the events leading up to what promises to be the biggest
#WomensWorldCup
in history show that the players are willing to test those limits.
#AthleteActivism
#OnAndOffTheField
🛑 The Spanish Football Federation President's inappropriate actions during the
#WorldCup
celebrations highlight the dire need for stronger athlete safeguarding.
#FIFA
must assert its authority to ensure athletes are protected from such misconduct.
📌 Athletes & allies impacted by abuse in sport can learn more about the
#AthletesNetwork
& meet the people behind it by attending our online meet & greet event on 29 May. 🤝
Sign up here:
⚽
@FIFAcom
&
@UNODC
have announced plans for a safe sport center in response to sexual abuse scandals in Afghan & Haiti football.
@hrw
&
@FIFPRO
raise concerns & say FIFA must first address its existing procedural flaws & underlying governance problems.
📢 Activists bring over 720,000 petitions to
#FIFA
President Gianni Infantino's hometown with billboards saying:
"Infantino: your family were migrants. Thousands like them were victims of this World Cup. Compensate them now."
#PayUpFIFA
#Qatar2022
#Hello
???☎️
For athletes facing abuse, a hotline is a lifeline.🛟
New
#SRA
report, "We Were Only Demanding Justice”: Sexual Abuse in Indian Wrestling Federation, exposes need for
@IOCmedia
to establish a safe hotline.
Read the report & learn more ➡️
🚨 Switzerland must ensure local sports associations such as
#FIFA
& the
#IOC
comply w/ their human rights responsibilities.
Together with
@amnesty
, we call on the Swiss Parliament to adopt two postulates calling for corresponding measures⬇️
🚨"
@FIFAcom
needs to take urgent action to live up to its own human rights commitments & to make amends to workers who have paid the ultimate price for
#FIFA
’s original failure to do human rights due diligence."
@MinkysHighjinks
on need for remedy for World Cup workers
#ptg2022
As the excitement builds for the
#FIFAWWC
final, let's also turn our attention to an important issue: maternity care and leave for women footballers. ⚽🧵 This thread sheds light on maternity care challenges faced by female footballers
#OnandOfftheField
. 👇
SRA partner
@MinkysHighjinks
presents
@hrw
research at
#PlayTheGame
on the institutional failures of
#FIBA
& the Mali Basketball Federation to protect young athletes & whistleblowers & provide remedy for survivors of abuse.
Learn more 👉
🚨🚨🚨 New
#SRA
statement on the International Olympic Committee's consistent refusal to follow advice about
#PengShuai
's safety from sexual abuse survivors &
#China
human rights experts.
Full statement👉
📢 We are a global coalition of fans, athletes, journalists & human rights defenders fighting for a better world of sport – and we need your help.
Would you RT & follow to help us hit 1,000 followers?
With
#Paralympics
&
#Beijing2022
just around the corner, every voice counts✊
At
#ptg2024
,
@AhmarMaiga08
tells his story of supporting survivors and whistleblowers in Mali basketball – explaining why even with
#FIBA
's “zero-tolerance” abuse policy, abusers had, and still have, all the power.
The
#SRA
has several questions & concerns:
⚽️ Was there any bidding process for the 2022 Club World Cup?
⚽️ Was a human rights risk assessment conducted?
⚽️ Did FIFA conduct any stakeholder consultation?
⚽️ How does FIFA intend to uphold its human rights standards in UAE?
🚨“How can football fans feel safe in Saudi Arabia if they can be so easily sentenced to prison for nothing more than chants the government doesn’t like?”
@joey_shea
⚽️ 12 fans in
#SaudiArabia
have been sent to prison for peaceful chanting at a match.
"FIFA must use its power to send a message to the Taliban as well: women belong at work, in the classroom and on the football pitch." ✊⚽️
@Malala
&
@khalida_popal
explain why it's time
#FIFA
steps up & ensures
@AfghanWnt
footballers' right to play ⬇️
"Banning trans kids from sports ostracizes them from a fundamental part of growing up and a lifeline to feel welcome and a part of their community."
We at the
#SRA
stand with the
@TheWNBPA
& all involved in the fight to
#ProtectTransKids
🏳️⚧️
🚨 Norwegian Football Federation President
#LiseKlaveness
urges
@FIFAcom
to publish its report on a lack of remedy for migrant workers around the
#Qatar
World Cup – saying the lack of transparency over publication speaks to a broader problem within
#FIFA
.