BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JULY 02: A general view of the stadium during the Czech Republic training... [+] Session prior to the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter final match between Denmark and the Czech Republic at Baku Olimpiya Stadiumu on July 02/2021 in Baku (Azerbaijan). (Photo by Matthew Lewis UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images UEFA via Getty ImagesThe Laudrup brothers and Denmark nearly eliminated Brazil in 1998's World Cup quarter-final. Rivaldos magic prevailed. The Czech Republic will face the Danish in their largest match since that wonderful afternoon in Nantes. The backdrop will however be quite different. There will be no curvy Stade de la Beaujoire shapes, but an Olympic Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, with a running track.The quarter-final will be attended by fewer than 1,000 Danish fans. The fans were discouraged by the distance they had to travel and the high cost of flights. They cheered Kasper Hjulmands' team on against Russia. This was a revival after the tragic collapse of Christian Eriksen. Bakus hosting has prompted another debate in Denmark about staging sporting events in countries that violate human rights. The Danish protested Qatar's hosting of the next year's global finals earlier this year.The DBU, Danish FA, has pointed out the government and vice versa. Hjulmand stated that a plan or policy is necessary for the future. Of course, the coach and his players can't be blamed for the dire situation of playing in Azerbaijan. The country is home to dictator Ilham Aliyev and has suffered horrific human rights violations.Giorgi Gogia, Human Rights Watch, told me that Azerbaijan has been systematically cracking down against dissenting voices since 2014. Azerbaijan was home to one of the largest civili societies in the region a decade ago. It has been almost entirely destroyed. It has passed laws that make it difficult for non-governmental organizations to operate. International scrutiny is prohibited in the country. Azerbaijani authorities have arrested opposition politicians on a variety of bogus or spurious charges. There is a problem with political prisoners. All rights are regularly violated in this country, including freedom of expression, freedom to assembly, freedom from media and freedom of association.Aliyev, however, has been attempting to ruin Azerbaijan's reputation by staging high-profile sporting activities, as China, Qatar and Rwanda, among other countries. It has hosted the European Games, Formula 1 races and the 2019 Europa League final. Saturday's quarterfinal is the fourth and final Euro 2020 match in Baku. Jan Jensen, a Danish journalist and investigator, believes that this is no accident. Jan Jensen, a Danish journalist investigating Azerbaijan, says that the autocratic ruler of Azerbaijan whitewashes his oppressive regime by playing high-end football. Unfortunately, Uefa has been too happy to oblige.BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – JULY 02: This handout photo provided by UEFA shows Kasper Hjulmand (Head Coach of... [+] Denmark) speaking to media at the Denmark Press Conference in advance of the UEFA Euro 2020 Quarter Final match. It took place at Baku Olimpiya Stadionu on 07/02/2021 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images). UEFA via Getty ImagesJensen said that it was quite strange that SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic), which has no track record in European soccer, received a major sponsorship from Uefa in 2013. The next year Uefa had a plan to host the European Championship in different countries. "Suddenly, which country and stadium was it? It's hard to understand why Baku - Azerbaijan has not become a major football country. There are many other options. You have a new stadium in Stockholm and Sweden is a large football country. But you can't say the exact same thing about Azerbaijan. This year's contract with Uefa expired. It was evident that they wanted to be part Euro 2020.Baku hosted the 2019 Arsenal-Chelsea final. Azeri flags were displayed all around the stadium with an oppressive police presence. The match was very uneventful, with cameras provided by outer space and the press box in the nosebleed section. The pitch was a distance away from the stands, so the Arsenal versus Chelsea match became a strange spectacle with plodding players moving slowly over a unkempt green field.In a final chapter in sportswashing, Saturday will see the spotlight return to Baku. Gogia says that we don't call for boycotts. We would not say that Uefa and Fifa should not organize matches in country A and B. However, it is important that they use the opportunity to speak with the top-ranking leaders of the country and demand fundamental freedoms.This seems like wishful thinking. 2017 was the first year that UEFA established specific criteria for managing human rights, but only with respect to Euro 2024. The European governing body was heavily criticised for the Munich rainbow ban during the current finals. Denmark is poised to achieve an incredible sporting feat back in Baku. The Danish fans will cheer their team on in the game of a lifetime and, perhaps, spread hope, dignity, and freedom.
