England’s players are worried about being turned into “political spokespeople” at the World Cup, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has said.
The tournament, to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicks off on 11 June.
But alongside the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, the build-up has seen rights groups raise concerns over issues such as the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s ability to welcome fans has been questioned after an outbreak of cartel violence sparked by the death of gang leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’.
Speaking to Sky News,, external the PFA’s Maheta Molango said England players had asked for guidance on how to handle calls to speak out when they come from rights campaigners and media organisations.
Some, Molango explained, feel they have previously been placed in a difficult position by being expected to comment on complicated social issues – for example, at the last World Cup in Qatar where LGBT rights came under the spotlight in a country where homosexuality can be punishable by death.
“We’re talking about people who are smart, who are socially conscious, people who understand that they don’t live in a bubble,” Molango said.
“However, what some of them have told me is that they found it a little bit unfair that, ultimately, for as much as they have a platform, why should they turn into spokespeople for governments or for governing bodies that in reality should be the ones taking the lead?
“I think some of them felt that in the past – and we’ve seen that, for example, in Qatar – some of them basically were hung out to dry.
“Because instead of having the government or having the governing body showing leadership on certain topics, all of a sudden the players were asked to become political spokespeople and that’s not what they are.
“Those people are paid for delivering a show on the pitch.”
