A world first in Norway. The club of Tromso IL, which plays in the first division, will become the first club to evolve in official competition with a jersey with QR code. The initiative, developed with the NGO Amnesty International, aims to shed light on the human rights situation in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
The jersey, all in garnet and blue, sports the geometric shapes of the famous code popularized by the Covid-19 pandemic. Once scanned, supporters will be sent to a site dealing with human rights and “sportwashing”, namely the whitewashing of a country’s image through the organization of sporting events.
Tromsø IL was the first professional club worldwide to speak out against the inhumane conditions in the country. The club is now making a new push – this time in collaboration with Amnesty International and Malcolm Bidali.
For more https://t.co/Vv0NPRGwSJ pic.twitter.com/xCdDQeB47f
– TIL (@TromsoIL) December 6, 2021
“Through this, we hope to stimulate more discussions, we hope for more debates, we want more acts“, said Tom Hogli, former pro turned public relations manager of Tromso IL, presenting the jersey. will be dressed for the first time next Sunday against the Viking team, on the occasion of the last championship meeting before the winter break.
Tromso IL had already made itself known at the end of February by calling on the Norwegian Football Federation to boycott the World Cup in Qatar. The request, followed by several clubs, followed an article published by the British daily The Guardian revealing that 6,500 immigrant workers have died in the gas emirate at stadium construction sites since the World Cup was awarded in 2010.
Tromsø IL oppfordrer NFF til boikott av VM 2022!
The klubbens uttalelse.https: //t.co/DBdIyKIAKn
– TIL (@TromsoIL) February 26, 2021
Accusations and criticisms that the Gulf country rejects, emphasizing having reformed its labor law and introduced a minimum wage. The idea of a boycott, long in vogue in the Scandinavian country, was finally abandoned by the Federation in a vote in June. The selection of Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland ultimately failed to secure his ticket to the World Cup last November on the pitch by failing to take third place in Group G.