Performative values<\/p>\n
This landscape is at odds with the one that UEFA attempts to paint for itself. UEFA\u2019s promotion of inclusion has been front and centre for a long time, mainly through their Equal Game campaign launched in 2019 under UEFA\u2019s Respect initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201c#EqualGame is UEFA\u2019s campaign to promote its vision that everyone should be able to enjoy football, regardless of who they are, where they are from or how they play the game,\u201d reads the statement on the UEFA website.<\/p>\n
Though the statement is trite and vague, at the end of each season UEFA releases a \u201cRespect Report\u201d, which details progress across seven priorities: anti-racism, child and youth protection, equality and inclusion, football for all abilities, health and well-being, refugee support, and solidarity and rights.<\/p>\n
Much of these values lie in sharp contrast to the values of the Hungarian government, and when values contradict so sharply, one would expect more friction. Hungary\u2019s very visible, incessant attacks on LGBTQ+ freedoms and continuous discrimination of refugees seems directly opposed to what UEFA stands for. But the narrative of the relationship isn\u2019t so simple.<\/p>\n
\u201cUEFA\u2019s very visible championing of what people would call DEI values in the US has become purely performative,\u201d Philippe Auclair, investigative reporter for Josimar and the Guardian, tells BIRN.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure there are loads of people at UEFA who genuinely believe that it\u2019s worth doing. I genuinely believe some of these policies were put in place with the aim of promoting inclusion, human rights and equality,\u201d he explains. \u201cBut I think the reality has caught up very fast with those idealists and that today it is more or less\u2026 a question of ticking the right boxes and using the right words to make people think UEFA is working towards inclusion, protection of human rights, promotion of equality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just have to look at the situation regarding anti-racism,\u201d he continues. \u201cOn one hand, you have all these campaigns and strong words about eradicating this and that. But when they could actually take measures that would genuinely punish people who breach UEFA\u2019s own regulations, they don\u2019t do it \u2013 or it\u2019s a slap on the wrist.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe real world has collided with the good intentions, and this has become performative,\u201d he says, adding it\u2019s the same with FIFA, the global football governing body.<\/p>\n
When values are reduced to words, then actions can be shaped by convenience, and there is no need to square principles with choices. The banners can say \u201cRespect\u201d, but the logistics will say \u201cBudapest\u201d, and the gap between them can be quietly ignored so long as the practicalities are covered.<\/p>\n