‘Disbelief’: Qatar Airways victim slams FIFA over World Cup sponsorship

One of the victims of a lawsuit against Qatar Airways over invasive strip searches has slammed football’s governing body.

One of the victims of a lawsuit against Qatar Airways over invasive strip searches has slammed the soccer governing body FIFA for taking sponsorship from the beleaguered airline.

The woman is part of a group lawsuit against the airline and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority after they were subject to gynaecological examinations without their consent during a stopover at Hamad Airport in Doha in October 2020.

The terrifying ordeal happened after a baby was discovered abandoned in a bathroom bin in a terminal and authorities searched for the mother.

Qatar is an ultraconservative Muslim monarchy, where sex and childbirth outside of marriage are punishable by jail.

The women are seeking a formal apology, evidence that policies have been changed to ensure it cannot happen again, as well as compensation.

One of the women told news.com.au that she is in “disbelief” that FIFA could accept sponsorship from “a company like that”.

The woman says FIFA should not accept sponsorship from Qatar Airlines. Picture: 60 Minutes

“They were part of the abhorrent treatment from that night,” she said. “There would be so many companies better suited.

“We are trying to make a big change and support women’s human rights. We are just five everyday women - nurses, retirees, teachers - and we are going up against huge global entities.”

The woman also said she hoped Football Australia and the Matildas would offer a statement of support.

“As a women’s soccer team, it could have been any of them caught up in it,” she said.

The women’s soccer World Cup will run from July 20 to August 20 this year and is hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Qatar Airlines is one of the major sponsors of the event.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison discuss the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Picture Calum Robertson

The woman said victims felt let down also by the Australian government.

“We hoped they might have had our back,” she said.

No politicians have contacted victims to offer support.

“I continue to have nightmares from the event,” the woman said. “It has affected my everyday life; I can be out shopping centre and the the sight of a rubbish bin will make me panic. You obviously can’t avoid them. This is triggering because the baby was found in the bin.”

The woman said she struggled using public restrooms and seeing police officers, and has considered quitting her job as a nurse.

“I’ve just cried and cried and cried,” she said.

Terrifying ordeal

The women were on board a Qatar Airways flight on October 2, 2020, when a newborn baby was allegedly found in a bathroom in the terminal.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Picture: AFP

As authorities searched for the mother of the newborn, all female passengers were told to leave the aircraft by men carrying large guns who stormed the plane.

“I thought I was going to get killed or kidnapped,” the woman said.

The woman said she was in a state of shock and she did not think she would come back alive.

“I was thinking of my family and that they knew how much I loved them,” she said.

She was made to lay in an ambulance on the tarmac when a nurse speaking broken English insisted on a gynaecological exam.

Matildas captain Sam Kerr with other players. Picture NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“I felt paralysed with fear. I was looking outside and I could see all these men surrounding my vehicle so I thought if I can see out can they all see in when I was feeling the most vulnerable I have ever felt,” she said.

The woman said at the time she and the other women felt they had no choice but to comply.

FIFA was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.

Football Australia was contacted for comment and had not replied at time of publication.

A spokesperson for Qatar Airways told news.com.au that the airline recognised the “distress and concern the litigants experienced”.

“The events in question formed part of a criminal investigation by the Qatari Police which the airline had no control over,” they said.

“As with all other airlines and passengers who were affected by this matter, Qatar Airways was required to comply and had no ability to refuse directions issued at the time by the Qatari authorities.”

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