AIDs groups in South Africa have claimed that FIFA is stalling over making condoms available to football fans, putting at risk many travellers unaware of the AIDS epidemic ravaging the country.
South Africa has the world’s largest number of people carrying HIV, with estimates putting the number of South Africans infected at 5.7 million. Every day, there are 1,400 new infections.
The huge influx of tourists that the world cup will bring – and it is well know that tourists are more likely to drink and engage in risky sexual behaviour – means that sexual health needs to be a priority, to ensure that the supporters do not contract the disease while on holiday.
However according to a group of AIDS charities, Fifa’s tight regulations on advertising, which ensure that only official sponsors can be shown inside the stadium, mean that fans are not going to be given condoms or sufficient advice on sexual health.mThis is despite the South African government making 71 million condoms available, with a further 65million held in reserve.
The organisations, which include the AIDS Consortium and Treatment Action Campaign, say that FIFA has ignored their demands for an urgent meeting to discuss their concerns; though FIFA says that it is unaware of any such request.
FIFA has been especially criticized for welcoming advertising for alcohol, while stymying efforts to protect football fans against HIV.