The organization of the 2022 Football World Cup, which took place in Qatar, had already been pinned upon numerous occasions in matters of human rights, and in particular workers’ rights. This time, it is a report from FIFA itself that confirms the “Serious repercussions on human rights” of its practices … and which has been dismissed by management.
The FIFA subcommittee dedicated to human rights and social responsibility estimated that it was the responsibility of the Federation to provide financial compensation to its workers employed for the World Cup and who have suffered damages on this occasion.
While she recommended using the Qatar inheritance fund created after the Cup, with $ 50 million, for these workers, FIFA announced, two days before the report and via a press release, that the fund would be used for international development projects, in collaboration with WTO, WHO and UNHCR.
The publication of the FIFA report, commissioned in March 2023 and rendered in December of the same year, was delayed by almost a year following internal pressures. Containing an independent assessment provided by the human rights consulting firm Human Level, he notes that“A number of serious human rights impacts have finally occurred in Qatar from 2010 to 2022 for a number of workers related to the 2022 World Cup”and that it is credible to advance that “FIFA has contributed to some of these impacts”.
Placardized reports
A FIFA spokesperson said “All reports and recommendations were examined during an in -depth examination carried out by the FIFA administration and the competent organizations. Although all recommendations could not be respected, practical and impactful elements have been selected ”adding that the report “Does not specifically constitute a legal evaluation of the compensation for compensation”.
For Steve Cockburn, head of the Amnesty International Labor and Sport program, “It is scandalous that FIFA and Qatar have launched their long -standing inheritance fund without the slightest recognition of their obvious responsibility towards the very many workers who have been exploited and, for many, died to make the 2022 World Cup possible. Providing money to global initiatives to support refugee people and protecting workers from extreme heat effects is important. However, at present, the fund is absolutely nothing for families who have lost a loved one in Qatar and switched to poverty following its death. ”
While FIFA will have to approve the unique candidacy of Saudi Arabia for the organization of the future World Cup of 2034, the Federation, in the wake of its last announcements, qualified the risk of human rights violations in the kingdom of “AVERAGE”.
