https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-football-australia-speak-out-on-qatar-s-human-rights-record-20221025-p5bsph.html

Don’t go then. Otherwise “shut up and dribble”.

I dunno, I'd rather some sort of objection, then nothing at all.

So do we assume those 15 (excluding Alex Wilkinson as he's there as PFA President) are on the plane? Poor form if not. Seems a very random selection of players, and very fringe types.

Sure alot of them are.
But Irvine? Rowles? Ryan? They aren't fringe.

brilliant. just brilliant. 

yer its pretty hypicritical - oh but I'll pocket my $ might add.
The badgers of honour pros have today.

Better than doing/saying nothing like some 

Migrant workers have faced oppressive conditions in Qatar and many died while building infrastructure, stadiums and making other preparations for the tournament, although the precise number is hotly contested. The Guardian has estimated that as many as 6500 workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have passed away in Qatar since it was given the World Cup in 2010 – but the tournament’s organising committee says only three people died on-site while building stadiums. The International Labor Organisation has independently found that 50 workers lost their lives in 2020, and more than 500 were severely injured.


Slight disparity in deaths claimed.

Either 3 people, 50 people or 6500 people.

Member since 2008.

Very good to take a stand. Keep in mind, the athletic clothes that we all proudly wear are from those environments and conditions as well.

Wow... that will show the Qataris...

I suppose the Socceroos could go as  special forces unit and take out the oppressive regime, or just go and compete in the WC.

cause thats going to change anything lol...

if anything, Australia's WC tour just got a little more 'difficult' 

At least the Danes made an all black strip to signify death, this just shows how weak we are imo.

I should have inserted "some", or even "mostly" fringe players in the signatories. Still, interesting the message this sends to the playing group given it seems to have the imprimatur of the FA.

Great to see, let's hope other national teams follow suit and take a stand too.

They have. Some a lot stronger that this lettuce leaf whack

I disagree, if anything none of the nations that have qualified have shown the balls to speak up about it like the Socceroos players have just done.

Denmark got an alternative jersey but we need more.

Well done, Socceroos!

I worked in the ME for a while.

The conditions for imported construction workers are shocking in their scorching summers. 

Well ,  if   they   didn' t   want    to   kick   us    out   of   Asia    before ,   they   will   now .. .

Well, yeah fair enough - it's mostly unqualified countries like Norway who have made strong protests (multiple).

Netherlands protesting by wearing a black jersey signifying death is fair enough but, the Aussies put their faces in front of the camera and directly put themselves out there for others to hear it.
The boys should just make sure they go to the toilet or anywhere in groups because the low lives from over there might get ideas.

These stunts are more about virtue signalling rather than trying to enforce change. Religion is the bedrock of those societies, I dont think they will pay too much attention to some deeply amoral, godless, abortion loving country like Australia trying to lecture it.

Can you imagine if countries did a similar thing for the Australia WC with regards to the treatment of asylum seekers and climate change policies? We would rightly tell those people to fuck off yeah? 

I dont understand the current trend of publicly dissing countries or sponsors, but then turning up at their door step expecting to make bank. What’s the message here? You are terrible and we hate you but we love money more? If we accept the invitation to attend Qatar, then we should show appropriate decorum, courtesy and respect to our hosts. Whatever happened to saying thank you?

Good on them for sticking to their principles and doing something about it by going there to play.

Australia and the socceroo players should be the last people lecturing other countries about human rights issues. 

How quickly people forget the past two years in this country regarding human rights and freedoms lol. 

play football and STFU. 

Once again you lot demonstrate your defence of "freedom of speech" only applies if its something you agree with. 

You Lot? lol

I agree it's virtue signalling garbage but I imagine the idea is if you draw attention to injustices that are occurring something will hopefully change. Because these poor bloody workers in these countries (and others) are fucked sideways by these pricks.

There's plenty of examples of 'virtue signalling' campaigns that have forced companies and countries to do things they ordinarily wouldn't do.

To take an unrelated example the single use plastic ban would never have been achieved if it wasn't for 'social justice warriors' banging on about it.

But your overarching point is correct. No country with religion as it's bedrock institution is going to listen to a bunch of clowns from Australia who are telling them to accept same sex relationships.

While I agree with your first point, on your second - you guys are chanting ‘for the homeland’ the other week etc. 

True but you've also got the virtue signalers in the boardrooms agitating for it, and the board is always concerned about bad press, boycotts etc impacting share price etc. The basis of such decisions are usually appeasing the vultures and commercial interests rather than some great moral deed.

As for Qatar, you're doing the exact opposite. No one is going to be influenced by heathens and infidels destined for hell lecturing them about morals and ethics.