Moi Elyounoussi and Kris Ajer took part in a Human Rights protest as the European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup Finals got underway.
FIFA’s decision to award the finals to Qatar has attracted a storm of protest with Amnesty International and others highlighting the Human Rights issues in the Gulf State.
Scandinavian countries have been at the forefront of European criticism of the decision with calls in some countries to boycott the finals if they qualify.
The Norway squad wore T-shirts to express concern about the Qatar 2022 World Cup and its hosts’ human rights record ahead of their qualifying match against Gibraltar on Wednesday.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 25, 2021
HUMAN RIGHTS- on and off the pitch
Elyounoussi was in the starting XI for Norway away to Gibraltar with the TV cameras picking up on the T-shirts worn by the players pre-match. Ajer stood with the other Norwegian substitutes adding to the protest.
Norway won the match 3-0 but the T-shirts and protest made more headlines than the score from the match.
UEFA have rules about any sort of political messaging but will be wary of punishing Norway over such a sensitive issue.
Human rights – On and off the pitch. #GIBNOR pic.twitter.com/L28CfxVaug
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) March 24, 2021