The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, João Paulo Correia, said on Friday that Qatar “does not comply with human rights”, noting that the country’s choice to host the 2022 World Cup “was not the best”.
“The State of Qatar does not comply with human rights. The choice made by FIFA, which is not today, was not the best and that has already been proven. The commitments that Qatar made, at that time, in terms of human rights, freedoms and guarantees are not being fulfilled,” said João Paulo Correia.
The leader, who was present at the inaugural ceremony of Thinking Footbal, in Porto, promoted by the Portuguese Professional Football League, nevertheless shared the opinion of the President of the Republic, to keep the focus on the performance of the national team.
“Although the fight for the defense of human rights must always be present, we cannot lose focus on the selection. Like many Portuguese, I also dream of winning the world title”, said João Paulo Correia.
In another context, the Secretary of State revealed that the Government is preparing a national strategy for gender equality in sport, the details of which will be presented in January next year.
“It will go through a set of public measures, legislative initiatives and recommendations to sports institutions. As or more important than increasing the number of women practitioners in all modalities, it is essential that women access places of power in sport and the leadership of organizations”, said João Paulo Correia.
The official considered that Portugal “still has a long way to go to promote, with public policies, gender equality in sport”, but showed the “firm conviction” of placing the country, in 2030, at the European average.
In a summit whose professional soccer is the central theme, João Paulo Correia considered that the sector “has contributed to the affirmation of Portugal”, pointing out that the League “has done a meritorious job in valuing the activity”.
“We have to look at football as a sector of economic activity in which the State must behave not only as a regulator, but also as a partner. And a sector that creates a lot of added value, which is reflected in GDP and exports, and which has contributed to the reputation of the Portugal brand”, said the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports.
Source: TSF
