FIFA World Cup 2022 sponsors under artistic attack online

Published May 31st, 2015 - 04:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

An army of internet activists have created 'anti-logos' to shame the corporations sponsoring the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The memes mocking multi-national companies including Adidas, Budweiser, Coca Cola and Sony surface as FIFA is accused of widespread corruption and bribery over at least two decades.

One image transforms McDonald's famous golden arches into two whips with a caption reading: 'Proud sponsor of human rights abuses in Qatar.'

Most of the companies including Coca Cola and VISA have refuted the claims - and suggested it is FIFA's responsibility to ensure safe working conditions for workers.

Mocked: The internet activists have transformed McDonald's famous golden arches into whips
 
Prisoner: Coca-Cola also got the mocking meme treatment, with a tiny caption reading: 'c'
Abuse: The three stripes of Adidas are depicted as gravestones - with reports claiming over a thousand people have died building Qatar's World Cup stadiums

Abuse: The three stripes of Adidas are depicted as gravestones - with reports claiming over a thousand people have died building Qatar's World Cup stadiums

Another appears to show slave workers holding up the VISA sign while the famous three stripes of sports brand Adidas are depicted as grave stones on the Bored Panda website.

More than 1,400 migrant workers have reportedly died building stadiums for the World Cup because of 'extreme weather' and unsafe working conditions.   'Many migrant workers live in cramped, unsanitary conditions, especially those working without documentation,' according to Human Rights Watch.

It claims Qatari authorities have failed to give foreign migrants 'adequate protection against serious rights abuses, including forced labor and trafficking'.

Slaves: Another image posted on blog Bored Panda shows migrant slaves holding up the VISA sign

Slaves: Another image posted on blog Bored Panda shows migrant slaves holding up the VISA sign

The memes mocking multi-national companies including Adidas, Budweiser, Coca Cola and Sony surface as FIFA is accused of widespread corruption and bribery over at least two decades.
 
Photoshopped: Electronic mega brand Sony's famous tagline has been changed from 'make believe' to 'make slavery'
Accused: Another image mocking Adidas reads 'migrants' as the images surface amid allegations that FIFA has been involved in corruption and bribery for decades 

Accused: Another image mocking Adidas reads 'migrants' as the images surface amid allegations that FIFA has been involved in corruption and bribery for decades 

VISA has since released a statement expressing concern at conditions, adding: 'We continue to be troubled by the reports coming out of Qatar related to the World Cup and migrant worker conditions.
 
'We have expressed our grave concern to FIFA and urge them to take all necessary actions to work with the appropriate authorities and organizations to remedy this situation and ensure the health and safety of all involved.'

Coca-Cola also puts the onus on human rights compliance on FIFA, adding: 'The Coca-Cola Company does not condone human rights abuses anywhere in the world.
 
'We know FIFA is working with Qatari authorities to address questions regarding specific labor and human rights issues. We expect FIFA to continue taking these matters seriously and to work toward further progress.'

By Jay Akbar



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