A group of international lawyers filed a formal complaint to FIFA on Thursday claiming the soccer body is failing to uphold its human rights policy with 2034 World Cup host Saudi Arabia .
The filing using FIFA's own online portal for grievance reporting was made by FIFA's former anti-corruption adviser Mark Pieth, Swiss lawyer Stefan Wehrenberg and British barrister Rodney Dixon.
Their offers to advise FIFA on human rights compliance were ignored before Saudi Arabia was confirmed last December as the 2034 host by acclamation without a rival bidder.
"As highlighted in this complaint, widespread human rights abuses continue to be perpetrated in Saudi Arabia, and no steps are being taken by FIFA to address these in the buildup to the World Cup," the lawyers state in a 30-page document.
"Instead, it appears it is business as usual with no changes to be made," the complaint said hours before FIFA opens its first annual congress of 211 member federations since the Saudi hosting win in an online meeting.