To: Stephanie Peacock UK Minister for Sport, English FA+PFA and Scottish FA+PFA
Boycott Trump's World Cup
The British Government, alongside the English and Scottish FAs and PFAs should work with other European Countries to have FIFA remove the USA as a World Cup host, as a message that flouting international law and issuing military threats have consequences.
Why is this important?
I am unbelievably chuffed that the Scottish Men's team, alongside England are qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Since childhood I have always loved a World Cup. My childish excitement however is being tempered by what that means in terms of matches being hosted on US soil.
With the Trump administration increasingly flouting international law, issuing hostile military threats against the sovereign territory of our close European and NATO ally, Denmark, his increasingly authoritarian and dictatorial treatment of his own citizens, abuses of human rights and free speech - including the policing of 5 years of social media for any visitors to the country. I feel that we need to be wary of not only possible human rights abuses against our own travelling support but also putting the players in an invidious position of having to weigh up their dreams since childhood of representing their country at a World Cup against potentially appearing to condone someone who may well become the next Hitler and the political leadership that may well become the fourth Reich.
It is well known that Sir Stanley Matthews and his England team mates deeply regretted having to play against the German team in 1938 largely for PR purposes and against their better instincts. They looked upon it afterwards as a stain upon their otherwise illustrious careers.
The British Government, the FAs and PFAs should mover heaven and earth to have FIFA (which has already stained its own reputation in relation to Donald Trump) to remove the US as a host and have the 2026 World Cup played in Mexico and Canada only.
And failing that, boycott the World Cup.
Do now, what you wish your counterparts in the 1930s with regard to Hitler's Germany and be on the right side of history.
With the Trump administration increasingly flouting international law, issuing hostile military threats against the sovereign territory of our close European and NATO ally, Denmark, his increasingly authoritarian and dictatorial treatment of his own citizens, abuses of human rights and free speech - including the policing of 5 years of social media for any visitors to the country. I feel that we need to be wary of not only possible human rights abuses against our own travelling support but also putting the players in an invidious position of having to weigh up their dreams since childhood of representing their country at a World Cup against potentially appearing to condone someone who may well become the next Hitler and the political leadership that may well become the fourth Reich.
It is well known that Sir Stanley Matthews and his England team mates deeply regretted having to play against the German team in 1938 largely for PR purposes and against their better instincts. They looked upon it afterwards as a stain upon their otherwise illustrious careers.
The British Government, the FAs and PFAs should mover heaven and earth to have FIFA (which has already stained its own reputation in relation to Donald Trump) to remove the US as a host and have the 2026 World Cup played in Mexico and Canada only.
And failing that, boycott the World Cup.
Do now, what you wish your counterparts in the 1930s with regard to Hitler's Germany and be on the right side of history.
How it will be delivered
Social Media
