Spanish ultra-left and ultra-right parties have united to oppose Morocco’s bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. This comes amid outrage over Morocco’s alleged role in the influx of 72,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Despite ideological differences, the ultra-left party Sumar and the ultra-right Vox have officially called for a significant review of the plans to host this global sporting event. “Morocco cannot receive prestige, economic benefits, and international legitimacy from hosting the World Cup,” while doubts remain about Rabat’s role in last week’s crisis, stated Sumar, which is part of the coalition government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in a proposal submitted to the Spanish parliament on Wednesday.
Parliamentary initiatives and accusations
Less than 24 hours after Sumar‘s proposal, the Vox party submitted an almost identical bill, questioning the advisability of hosting the World Cup with a country that is “not a loyal partner for organizing a sporting event of this magnitude, nor for any neighborhood issues.” In Vox‘s proposal, it is stated that “the very serious events that took place in Ceuta on July 30 and 31 completely destroyed the foundations of trust and cooperation on which a joint bid is necessarily based.” The party also noted that co-hosting with Morocco would be “a deliberate humiliation that Spain must firmly oppose.”
Both proposals are non-binding and do not obligate Madrid to take action. However, these legislative initiatives show that lawmakers from across the political spectrum are united in their discontent over Rabat’s alleged role in the crisis, which many in Madrid see as an example of Morocco using migrants to exert political pressure on its neighbor. The socialist government of Spain has avoided directly accusing Morocco, seeking to find a quick resolution to the crisis.
Other calls and controversies surrounding the tournament
In addition to Sumar and Vox, the Spanish ultra-left party Podemos and the Portuguese environmental party Livre have also called on the Iberian neighbors to host the next World Cup without Morocco.
In 2023, the governing body of world football, FIFA, awarded the 2030 tournament to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Matches are set to be held at stadiums such as Madrid’s “Santiago Bernabéu,” Lisbon’s “Estádio da Luz,” and a new specially built venue in Casablanca, which, according to Moroccan authorities, will become the largest football stadium in the world.
The future host cities also made headlines on Wednesday as controversial FIFA President Gianni Infantino allegedly offered Moroccan officials the right to host the tournament’s final match in exchange for a declaration of support from the country’s football federation, according to the newspaper The Times. FIFA denied this report, insisting that the football leader had not made such commitments.
Source: Politico
