African journalists slam UAE ‘manipulation’ over Qatar World Cup

FAJ condemns what it says are attempts by the UAE to pressure African journalists into campaigning against World Cup.

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has condemned what it calls attempts by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to “manipulate” African journalists into speaking out against the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. In a resolution released on Wednesday, the FAJ expressed “dismay” over efforts by the UAE to “manipulate journalists’ organisations in Africa to issue public statements or campaign against the 2022 FIFA World Cup”. The resolution, adopted at the African Journalists Leaders’ Conference held this week in the Ghanaian capital Accra, also called on football’s world governing body, FIFA, as well as the regional body, the Confederation of African Football, to investigate and sanction those responsible.