Sportwashing: A instrumentalização do futebol e os desafios aos direitos humanos no Catar e na Arábia Saudita

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyze the phenomenon of sportwashing through the lens of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, investigating how these countries use international sporting events, football leagues, and investments in clubs to improve their global image and promote changes in their economic portfolios. While sportwashing can yield financial and reputational benefits, it also raises serious questions about these countries' human rights policies. To this end, the article uses the Human Rights Watch global report to highlight these violations and provide an overview of the role of sportwashing as a tool for concealing or minimizing the visibility of human rights issues, while paradoxically exploring whether the phenomenon has the potential to drive improvements in legislation and internal practices in these countries due to external pressure. The article also examines FIFA's human rights policy, which, despite setting guidelines to prevent and mitigate adverse impacts, faces challenges in effectively implementing these standards in its competitions. The research was conducted using an exploratory qualitative method, analyzing academic works, official documents, portals, news reports, and relevant legislation.