<p>The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> has implemented new ownership rules to help block human rights abusers from purchasing a club. The rule change bars potential buyers with past human rights abuses. The rule will take effect immediately.</p>



<p>The UK’s <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/680/contents/made" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations</a> determines these abuses. According to the laws, prospective owners face bans if they currently have UK government sanctions hanging overhead. Other possible disqualifications include corruption, fraud, tax evasion as well as hate crimes and violence. These rules also apply to club’s sporting directors.</p>



<h2>Human rights group leader unconvinced with Premier League rule</h2>



<p>Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK’s economic affairs director, sees this as a step in the right direction. Still, he desires more.</p>



<p>“It’ll make little difference unless powerful individuals linked to serious human rights violations overseas are definitively barred from taking control of Premier League clubs and using them for state sportswashing,” <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12845675/premier-league-significant-changes-as-clubs-agree-on-new-ownership-rules-including-human-rights-abuses" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Frankental.</p>



<p>“Would, for instance, a future bid involving Saudi or Qatari sovereign wealth funds be blocked by this rule change? It’s far from clear that they would.”</p>



<p>“Merely checking whether people are on an existing UK sanctions list is a very low bar, and the sanctions list reflects the Government’s foreign policy priorities rather than any objective assessment of human rights issues.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅ Changes to Premier League&apos;s Owners’ and Directors’ Test come into effect immediately<br><br>"Manchester United&apos;s takeover should be a lot more transparent than with takeovers in the past."<br><br>[via <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyKaveh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkyKaveh</a>] <a href="https://t.co/oAXHwyJVfV">pic.twitter.com/oAXHwyJVfV</a></p>— Football Daily (@footballdaily) <a href="https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1641450675078066185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h5>Sheikh Jassim’s bid for Man Utd could become an issue</h5>



<p>The new rules could have an affect on Manchester United’s impending sale. Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim has made official bids to purchase the Red Devils from the Glazer Family. However, human rights and LGBTQ+ groups have raised questions over the potential move.</p>



<p>Qatar currently outlaws homosexuality. Consequently, punishments range from fines to death by stoning. The Middle Eastern country’s treatment of migrant workers in preparation for the 2022 World also garnered significant criticism. Nevertheless, Martyn Ziegler of <em>The Times</em> has <a href="https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/1641443748549914631" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> that Sheikh Jassim is not currently on the UK government’s list of people sanctions for human rights abuse.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus</em></p>


Premier League changes rules to ban human rights abusers

The Premier League has implemented new ownership rules to help block human rights abusers from purchasing a club. The rule change bars potential buyers with past human rights abuses. The rule will take effect immediately. The UK's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations determines these abuses. According to the laws, prospective owners face bans if they [&hellip;]

The Premier League is implementing new laws that would disqualify human rights abusers from purchasing a club.

<p>The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/germany-national-team-tv-schedule/">Germany</a> national soccer team made a protest towards FIFA and the Qatar World Cup during their prematch team photo. Players covered their mouths, alluding to the lack of voice for the players.</p>



<p>FIFA banned the use of OneLove captain armbands at the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a> in Qatar and has asked teams to ‘<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/belgium-forced-to-remove-love-from-kits-during-world-cup-20221122-WST-409431.html">focus on football</a>‘ while at the tournament.</p>



<p>“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect,” read a DFB statement on their official Twitter account. “Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard.”</p>



<p>“It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable,” continued the statement. “That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us. Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us.<br><br>Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position. <a href="https://t.co/tiQKuE4XV7">pic.twitter.com/tiQKuE4XV7</a></p>— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/DFB_Team_EN/status/1595405792957562880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Germany, like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/england-and-wales-to-defy-fifa-and-wear-onelove-armbands-20221119-WST-409028.html">six other teams</a> at the World Cup, did not wear the OneLove armband after FIFA warned of sanctions. Captain Manuel Neuer’s armband was inspected by a FIFA official prior to kickoff. However, along with the gesture during the pregame photo, Neuer played the match against Japan in rainbow-colored cleats. </p>



<h2>Germany first to protest at the World Cup</h2>



<p>The DFB is also reportedly checking the legality of FIFA’s ban on the OneLove armbands. “FIFA has forbidden us from using a symbol of diversity and human rights,” <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63729563" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> DFB media director Steffen Simon.</p>



<p>“They combined this with massive threats of sporting sanctions without specifying them. The DFB is checking whether this action by FIFA was legal.”</p>



<p>Simon previously claimed that the world’s governing body of the sport used ‘<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/germany-claims-extreme-blackmail-forced-armbands-change-20221122-WST-409423.html">extreme blackmail</a>‘ to block the OneLove armbands at the World Cup. The DFB has also contacted the Court of Arbitration for Sport on whether or not FIFA overstepped boundaries to ban the armband. Germany is hoping that Neuer can wear the OneLove armband for their second match of the tournament on Sunday.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Bildbyran</em></p>



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<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
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Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
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Germany players cover their mouths in FIFA World Cup protest

Germany players covered their mouths in a protest against FIFA and the Qatar World Cup during their pregame photo on Wednesday.

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Premier League changes rules to ban human rights abusers

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Germany players cover their mouths in FIFA World Cup protest