Doha: Arsene Wenger praised the Socceroos’ historic World Cup performance before making the surprising, controversial and contradictory suggestion that “political demonstrations” carried out in Qatar caused teams to lose focus and contributed to poor performances.
Wenger, who has been working as FIFA’s head of global football development since late 2019, offered the comments unprompted on Sunday in an apparent swipe at teams like Australia, Germany, Denmark and others who have expressed unease with the host country’s human rights record and treatment of LGBTQ people.
Arsene Wenger says teams may have focused on “political demonstrations” at the expense of World Cup performance.Credit:Getty
Speaking at a media briefing with FIFA’s technical study group in a review of the World Cup’s group stage, the former Arsenal manager offered a few words of commendation for Graham Arnold’s Socceroos, whose players were revealed to have run a combined 120 kilometres in their three Group D matches – the second most of any of the 32 competing teams, equal with Iran and behind only the United States (123km).
“We can see how Australia has done so well, they kept their shape all of last night with high-value runners,” he said, referring to the gallant 2-1 defeat to Argentina that saw Australia knocked out in the round of 16.
But in response to a later question, on whether the short lead-in period before the World Cup and unique conditions in Qatar had triggered some of the shock results seen in the tournament, Wenger made the bizarre claim that political stances may have brought some nations undone.
“You know when you go to a World Cup, you know you can’t lose the first game. The teams who have the experience to perform in tournaments like France and England played well in the first game,” he said.
“The teams who were mentally ready, with a mindset to focus on competition, and not the political demonstrations.”
Wenger was making a clear reference to Germany and Denmark, two of the pre-tournament favourites who suffered shock early exits and made some of the most visible statements supporting human rights in Qatar.
As one of seven European nations who had intended for their captains to wear the ‘One Love’ armband, only to be blocked by FIFA, Germany’s players responded to the ban by covering their mouths in their team photo before their clash with Japan, which they lost 2-1 – a gesture that has since been widely mocked on social media and by some Middle Eastern pundits.
Denmark, meanwhile, wore toned-downed kits designed by apparel company Hummel, which said it didn’t wish for its branding to be visible “during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives”. Denmark were knocked out of Group D, finishing bottom behind France, Australia and Tunisia.
German players cover their mouths ahead of their opening game to protest against FIFA’s refusal to let them wear diversity armbands.Credit:Getty Images
The Socceroos made perhaps the most significant show of support for those who have suffered from Qatar’s human rights abuses. They released a three-minute video almost a month out from the tournament in which 16 players called for an effective remedy for migrant workers and for the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships in the tiny gas-rich state.
Despite being peppered by questions from journalists about the video upon their arrival in Doha, players were still able to perform to their maximum – although they did deliberately time the release of the video to minimise any possible distractions.
Wenger was the face of FIFA’s short-lived plans to hold the World Cup every two years instead of four, and has been criticised for becoming a shill for the sport’s global governing body since retiring from management after his two-decade stint with Arsenal.
“Disgraceful comments by Wenger,” wrote former Socceroo and Stan Sport pundit Craig Foster on Twitter.
“Propagating the FIFA line that athletes shouldn’t stand up for human rights & that a desire for social justice inhibits athletic performance. Human rights aren’t politics, Arsene & values shouldn’t be for sale.”
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