The world football association FIFA is being charged with complicity in human rights violations in Qatar. The plaintiffs, a duped migrant worker from Bangladesh and the Dutch union FNV, say that FIFA made a mistake by granting the World Cup 2022 to a country that structurally exploits workers. They demand that FIFA uses its influence to have Qatar amend the law and also want compensation for the worker in question.
Since 2011, when Qatar started the preparations for the World Cup, human rights organisations estimated that hundreds of workers have died at construction sites. The organising committee denies that, but a law firm hired by the Qatari government found evidence in 2013 of dozens of work-related deaths across Qatar among migrant laborers. Last month two workers hung themselves during working hours.
FIFA was informed of the indictment by Swiss and Dutch lawyers on Sunday night. World football's governing body, which is still struggling after a corruption scandal, has always denied accountability for 'societal problems' in host countries. It argues the World Cup should be a catalyst for change in Qatar and says it's doing everything possible to ensure satisfactory conditions for workers on stadium sites. On Sunday evening a FIFA spokesperson said she couldn't comment yet.
The courtcase, which will take place in Switzerland because that's where FIFA's headquarters are, isn't futile, says professor international law at the University of Amsterdam Geert-Jan Knoops, who isn't involved in the case. 'Developments in international law have contributed to the fact that companies and organizations can carry responsibility for human rights violations that arise from investments in other countries. There is a lack of clear precedents.'
According to Ruud Baars, a representative of the Dutch union FNV, FIFA should have demanded fair treatment for the workers. 'They have neglected to do so and now tens of thousands of men are suffering the dire consequences.'
The fact that the organisation of the tournament was granted to the desert state has caused a lot of commotion over the past few years. For example, it was revealed that a number of FIFA executives had, in all likelihood, been bribed by Qatar. Because the World Cup would take place in summer and temperatures in Qatar can then rise to above 50 degrees Celsius, it was feared that the tournament would present a health risk to both players and fans. Therefore FIFA decided last year to move the tournament to the winter period.
FIFA charged with complicity in human rights violations Qatar | Sport | de Volkskrant
