A Swedish Boycott

Swedish Equality Ombudsman (who knew such a position even exists?) Claes Borgström today called on the country’s football team to boycott the World Cup because in his view the tournament will promote prostitution and human trafficking. I think Nicke, our blogger from Sweden, speaks for most Swedes when he calls this a ridiculous suggestion. I do applaud Borgström’s efforts to bring attention to the matter, however. As I wrote early last month, every time I read the headlines about prostitution and human trafficking at the World Cup I just end up feeling terribly sad. I simply wish it wasn’t a story this summer, but I know that it will be.

There are plenty of social issues out there as well that deserve our attention. The fact that women weren’t allowed to watch Iran’s national team play last month is an outrage. The continued violence in Cote d’Ivoire is something more countries around the world should care about. Ending racism in sport. And on and on.

I’m fine with people using the World Cup as an opportunity to bring up legitimate issue. But at the end of the day, boycotting a sporting event doesn’t seem to me like it will help solve anything. If anything, it might only serve to hurt the cause by alienating people who think a boycott is a too extreme mesaure.

Boycotting the consumption of Budweiser at the matches on the other hand…