There’s been substantial backlash from Liverpool supporters group Kop Outs over the club’s newly inked sponsorship deal with Visit Maldives, in light of the country’s human rights record. The Reds’ announcement of a multi-year partnership with Visit Maldives as their official tourism partner last Thursday didn’t sit well.
Kop Outs voiced their “profound anger and disappointment” in a visceral statement about the deal they view as a blatant contradiction to Liverpool FC’s vaunted stance on equality and inclusion. The group has issued a call to the club for engaging dialogue with their representatives and additional fan cohorts to talk through the issue and solidify the Reds’ public assurance towards upholding LGBT+ and broader human rights principles.
Paul Amann, the chairperson of Kop Outs, conveyed his disbelief: “We are livid that after celebrating LGBT+ History Month and five years of Red Together, LFC has chosen to side with an oppressor of human rights.
“LFC must reverse this, or lose not only all credibility on human rights, but also any chance of retaining its much-cherished Premier League Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard (PLEDIS) Advanced Level.”
Kop Outs argue that Liverpool “are effectively partnering with the Maldivian government and thereby aligning themselves with their views and laws”, citing it as an instance of “sportswashing”.
The Kop Outs’ statement further read: “Maldives’ treatment of LGBT+ individuals is deeply concerning. Same-sex relations are criminalized, and LGBT+ people face systemic discrimination and persecution, imprisonment, fines and even lashings. This sponsorship effectively endorses a regime that actively violates the fundamental human rights of its citizens.
“There are deeply concerning reports detailing the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Maldives. These demonstrate how the Maldivian government have failed to prevent a resurgence of the practice.
“The LFC Foundation has a detailed safeguarding policy that references FGM, yet this deal with Visit Maldives may leave Liverpool FC complicit with a state that fails to protect women and girls from this harmful practice.”
Finally, they concluded: “Liverpool FC, a club with a rich history of social justice and a global fanbase that includes countless LGBT+ supporters, should not be associated with such a regime. This partnership tarnishes the club’s reputation and undermines its commitment to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.'”.
“We, Kop Outs, will not stand by while our club profits from a partnership that supports oppression. We urge all Liverpool fans and human rights advocates to stand with us in condemning this decision.”
