On 7 December, 10 days after the Australian refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi was arrested at Bangkok airport, the former Socceroos captain Craig Foster sent a letter to the president and secretary general of Fifa reminding them that they had a human rights policy.
“I am sure that all in our global football family are delighted that Fifa have committed to the protection of basic human rights across its global football activities,” he wrote.
Sent to FIFA President and Secretary-General today to advocate for Hakeem’s rights under Article 3, FIFA Statutes and for FIFA to demonstrate their commitment to applying leverage and constructive dialogue with stakeholders where rights are breached #SaveHakeem @fatma_samoura pic.twitter.com/BqDMCsJY6s
— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) December 7, 2018
The letter itself was not a remarkable move for Foster, a long-time players’ advocate and human rights and refugee ambassador for Amnesty International who frequently uses his position as chief football presenter at SBS to criticise unethical practices in the game.
Then he called in his networks. Past players, current players, international captains, coaches, sports journalists, human rights advocates, politicians, podcasters, bloggers, community clubs: the “global football family”; mobilised behind a hashtag of #SaveHakeem.
I'm here any way u need me mate. My support for Hakeem and raising awareness for him is very important. Please pass on my message that he has my full support Craig. https://t.co/PBOKOz2SzW
— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) February 9, 2019
In January, Foster travelled to Switzerland to personally lobby Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura on behalf of Al-Araibi, who had been an international player for Bahrain before fleeing to Australia and being convicted in absentia on a widely discredited vandalism charge.
Fifa sent a representative to Al-Araibi’s court hearing last week, and joined the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations high commissioner for refugees in urging Thailand to allow Al-Araibi to return to Australia.
By the time Al-Araibi’s release was secured on Monday night, the nominations were in. Foster should be Australian of the year. He could probably even be prime minister, if he wanted.
Craig Foster for next Australian of the Year.
— Lisa Pryor (@pryorlisa) February 11, 2019
Once he’s had a few days off, might it be time to just put Craig Foster in charge of everything?
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) February 11, 2019
Foster himself has downplayed his role, saying that he was just a high-profile figure, not the driving force.
“There was a huge coalition of people right around the world ... It was a really amazing effort,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
Among those singing his praises are the prime minister, Scott Morrison, the foreign minister, Marise Payne, the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, and the Labor frontbenchers Penny Wong and Mark Dreyfus.
But Foster has already outlined another agenda. In an open letter on Tuesday he issued a warning to both the Australian government and the governing bodies of international sport that “we are just warming up”.
While delighted Hakeem is free and will be with his wife today, we are just warming up because this was a fight for the soul of sport and, whilst a blow has been struck, a great battle lies ahead. Thankyou to everyone. An incredibly uplifting win for the human spirit #HakeemSaved pic.twitter.com/BO9mlgvKCa
— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) February 11, 2019
“This was a fight for the soul of sport and, whilst a blow has been struck, a great battle lies ahead,” he said. “First step was to save Hakeem’s life, the next is to hold the game accountable to its response or lack thereof, and to ensure all those in positions of governance that were willing to sacrifice the life of one player while occupying positions of influence and prestige, whether in football, the Olympic movement, or any other sport, are expunged.”
He also criticised Australia’s record on asylum seekers, saying: “Australia must do better than we have in recent years.”
Foster was born in Lismore in northern New South Wales and moved to Sydney in the 1980s, making his debut at Sydney United in 1988.
He played for the national team from 1996 to 2000 and has been a commentator for SBS since 2002, making him one of the most recognisable voices in Australian sport.
In November he was the highest-profile candidate to take over as the chair of Football Federation Australia, but withdrew his nomination despite strong community support because he didn’t have the backing of key stakeholders. That position was won by Chris Nikou.
His success in organising the #SaveHakeem campaign has reopened public criticism of that decision.
Not to detract from #HakeemAlAraibi's moment of freedom here, but just want to note that Craig Foster, the guy deemed too "divisive" for the FFA Chair, united millions across the global football community and harnessed political power to ultimately save a footballer's life.
— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) February 11, 2019
Foster says in his open letter that the Australian government should “commit to more humane policies for all the ‘Hakeems’ who come into Australia’s care. Our nation has a big heart, we saw just how big in the past few months, and we need to carry this compassion forward.”
He says “Australia needs to look at how we treat every human being that comes to these shores, irrespective of how they arrive. I have committed to many throughout this campaign, including the UN, that I would work to this end when Hakeem was free and I intend to do so.”