Russia Press Freedom Reversal Shows FIFA Has Leverage and Should Use It

Last week, leading German sports journalist Hajo Seppelt got an unpleasant surprise: Russia denied him an entry visa to report on the 2018 World Cup – even after FIFA, the powerful soccer governing body, had green-lighted his application. Seppelt works for ‎German public broadcaster ARD and has reported on the sports doping scandal in Russia. Expand Journalist Hajo Seppelt. © Hajo Seppelt/Twitter It is unacceptable for Russia to reject a journalist for doing their job. Hosting the World Cup means you play by the rules, and article 3 of FIFA’s statutes and its Human Rights Policy make clear…

© Human Rights Watch - mercredi 16 mai 2018