“This policy expressly violates [football governing body] FIFA’s human rights policies, and FIFA needs to pressure the Trump administration to reverse it immediately,” she added. “The World Cup is not an opportunity for the U.S. to exclude and harass fans and journalists whose opinions Trump officials don’t like.”
FIFA directed POLITICO to the U.S. State Department when asked for comment. The State Department didn’t comment, but Customs and Border Protection, the agency that authored the proposal, said: “This is not a final rule, it is simply the first step in starting a discussion to have new policy options to keep the American people safe.”
“The Department is constantly looking at how we vet those coming into the country.”
The prospect of turning over years of social media data to American authorities also sparked fury from football supporters, who turned their fire on FIFA.
Fan organizations condemned the move and urged FIFA to pressure the Trump administration to reverse course. | Mustafa Yalcin/Getty Images
“Freedom of expression and the right to privacy are universal human rights. No football fan surrenders those rights just because they cross a border,” said Ronan Evain, executive director at Football Supporters Europe, a representative group for fans. “This policy introduces a chilling atmosphere of surveillance that directly contradicts the welcoming, open spirit the World Cup is meant to embody, and it must be withdrawn immediately.
“This is a World Cup without rules. Or at least the rules change every day. It’s urgent that FIFA clarifies the security doctrine of the tournament, so that supporters can make an informed decision whether to travel or stay home,” he added.
This article has been updated. Aaron Pellish and Jacob Wendler contributed to this report.
