FIFA’s Experience in the Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

F. J. Muscará; L. I. Zakharova

doi:10.17803/2713-0533.2026.3.37.499-532

FIFA’s Experience in the Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

F. J. Muscará, L. I. Zakharova

https://doi.org/10.17803/2713-0533.2026.3.37.499-532

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Abstract

Sporting activities generate impacts on a wide range of human rights. However, international sports organizations who are not subjects of public international law for a long time did not view themselves bound by international human rights standards. The situation began to change when the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) were adopted in 2011, obliging businesses, including entities engaged in sports activities, to implement human rights due diligence (HRDD) requirements, namely to identify, mitigate, assess and remedy adverse human rights impacts of their activities. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) that started to embrace consistently the HRDD model is setting a good example to follow.

International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) demonstrates a responsible approach to human rights issues. By means of adopting its own normative documents, namely FIFA’s Human Rights Policy of 2017 and FIFA World Cup 2026 Sustainability and Human Rights Strategy of 2024, FIFA signals its readiness to be guided by HRDD in its global operations. A specific unit named the Human Rights Advisory Board (HRAB) operated within FIFA from 2017 to 2021, after which it was disbanded. It analyzed the human rights situation in global football and formulated recommendations on the steps FIFA was expected to undertake to fulfill its human rights obligations more effectively. The authors of the article consider it necessary to revive the FIFA Human Rights Advisory Board.

Furthermore, based on the analysis of the most recent human rights violations that occurred at sporting events organized by CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation), the authors believe that this entity should align itself with FIFA’s normative provisions on human rights and integrate HRDD requirements into its practical activities. The most effective way for regional football confederations to achieve this goal would be to adopt their own human rights policies and establish the necessary bodies to ensure commitment to the UNGPs and FIFA’s Human Rights Policy.

Keywords

FIFA, IOC, business, human rights due diligence (HRDD), United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), FIFA Human Rights Advisory Board (HRAB), confederations, CONMEBOL

About the Authors

F. J. Muscará

Austral University
Argentina

Francisco J. Muscará, Professor of the human rights course in Sports Law Program

Buenos Aires

L. I. Zakharova

Kutafin Moscow State Law University (MSAL)
Russian Federation

Larisa I. Zakharova, Cand. Sci. (Law), Associate Professor, Department of International Law

Moscow

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Review

For citations:

Muscará F.J., Zakharova L.I. FIFA’s Experience in the Implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Kutafin Law Review. 2026;13(3):499-532. https://doi.org/10.17803/2713-0533.2026.3.37.499-532

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