Allegations of Discrimination
A Massachusetts man, King Pompilus, has filed a lawsuit after allegedly being denied entry to a FIFA Club World Cup match at Gillette Stadium due to his service dog paperwork. He claims he was singled out, asked for disability-related documentation, and initially refused entry, despite other patrons entering without issues.
Pompilus eventually gained access to the match but reports feeling humiliated and experiencing emotional distress. He argues this situation violated his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws. The lawsuit has been reviewed by Newsweek, who reached out to Pompilus, FIFA, and the Boston 26 Host Committee for comments.
Past Complaints Against FIFA
FIFA has previously faced criticism from disabled fans. When accessible tickets were made available last year, the organization was condemned for charging for companion seats, leading to complaints about disabled fans effectively paying double. Concerns were also raised about the cost of accessible parking.
The Guardian reported issues like wheelchair users being unable to purchase accompanying caregiver tickets and higher pricing for wheelchair and accessible seating compared to general admission on FIFA’s resale platform. A social media post from Football Supporters Europe, viewed 50,000 times, highlighted these issues, criticizing FIFA’s disregard for disabled fans.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful. It just shows FIFA’s complete lack of consultation with disabled fans and their representative groups,” said Jon Attenborough, a Scotland supporter and FSE Disability & Inclusion Fan Network Member.
Details in the Lawsuit
The complaint states that Pompilus attended the June 13 Haiti-Scotland match at the Foxborough stadium with his children and a trained service dog. Allegedly, a security employee requested documentation for the dog, contrary to federal law provisions.
Pompilus was reportedly delayed about 15 minutes while other fans were not stopped. A supervisor eventually allowed him to enter without the paperwork. The lawsuit claims that security personnel lacked proper training on laws regarding service animals and disability accommodations, leading to the demand for dog documentation.
The suit further notes that accessibility procedures were inconsistent throughout the tournament, conflicting with the organizers’ commitments to inclusion and equal access.
Legal Demands and Next Steps
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages and:
- A declaration of law violations by defendants.
- An injunction against requiring service-animal documentation.
- Training on ADA compliance for staff.
- Written policies on service animals.
- Record preservation related to service-animal incidents.
- Attorneys’ fees and costs, as allowed by law.
A jury trial is demanded. The defendants have not yet responded to the allegations.