There is something about the World Cup that is bothering me, and I feel as if it is of crucial importance to write about it and share it with all of you. No this is not about VAR.
I am talking about the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
This is not some bitter Australian ranting about how we were robbed in the bidding process. Never mind the soaring temperatures in the summer or the disruption to the other football leagues in the world by having it held in the Summer.
No this is a matter that goes beyond football.
This is a matter to do with the treatment of migrant workers in the 21st century. According to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), it is estimated that 1200 migrant workers have died to construct the facilities for the World Cup.
1200 people who voluntarily left their home countries, on the promise of sending money over to their families, many of whom are under the poverty line. And now they will never get to see them again.
When Sepp Blatter awarded this tiny country the hosting rights, they made promises to reform their controversial migrant worker systems. However, eight years after this happened the Kalfahla system is still in place in Qatar.
What this system means, is that migrant workers have in-country ‘sponsors’ that oversee their visas and their legal rights. When these workers leave for Qatar (paying a loan to do so), they have their passports confiscated, are forced to work long hours in the heat (often for little wages) and subjected to deplorable accommodations.
If this sounds like modern-day slavery, this is because it is. A recent documentary by ESPN exposed some of the stories that the workers have had. One detailed how he cannot leave the country (as his employer would not give consent for it), how he had seen at least three people die within a week and how he had not received a break from work since he got there.
Human rights abuse is rampant in Qatar. Homosexuality is still a crime in the country and can be punishable by death. Such an absurd law is made even more infuriating when something such as domestic violence is completely legal within Qatar, and there is no freedom of speech.
Safety concerns were rampant before the 2014 World Cup and have raised their head again in relation to Qatar. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
I can understand the appeal of a World Cup in the Middle East, but only if it is done properly. A country such as Qatar shows a complete lack of respect for human life everywhere.
It is estimated in the ITUC report that nearly 4000 people will die before the completion of the stadiums, most likely to be more. I question how many deaths is it going to take before FIFA and their sponsors will actually take action.
It is worrying, that an organisation such as FIFA can accumulate billions in revenue while ignoring the blatant human rights abuses going on in Qatar.
No. FIFA will not act unless it directly affects their profitability. When this happens, they will spring to action. We know this because this has already happened.
FIFA’s response to an Amnesty International report condemning the practices of Qatar claimed that it was not their responsibility to be involved in the political affairs of host countries. The hypocrisy of this statement cannot be underestimated.
In 2014 FIFA successfully lobbied the Brazilian government to overturn a ban on the sale of alcohol at stadiums. They did this quite simply because one of their major sponsors was Budweiser.
In 2010 FIFA created their own magistrate’s courts (dubbed the FIFA Courts) to dispel South Africa’s reputation as a ‘crime country’ and encourage more tourists to attend the World Cup.
We should all be boycotting the World Cup in 2022. This is a country that continually exploits human life and the fact that it has shown no improvements in the past eight years to reform its outdated practices demonstrates how this is only going to continue.
For anyone to support this World Cup is to support the choices of the Qatari government. This includes the supporting of state-sanctioned murder and slavery.
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We had hoped that the FIFA corruption scandal in 2015 would be the catalyst to remove the tournament but this is not going to be the case.
We can all act on social media, but unless something drastic occurs that affects the reputations and brands of FIFA’s sponsors, then nothing will change. We need to make it clear to the many sponsors of FIFA, that by continuing to support FIFA they are supporting the continued abuse of human rights in Qatar.
FIFA needs to strip the rights from Qatar. Not because of footballing reasons, but because of human reasons, but this will never happen. As we become more socially aware in the world, I remain somewhat hopeful that such an event like the Qatari World Cup will never happen again.
I will give credit to Gianni Infantino for reforming the voting procedures for the World Cup, but if FIFA wants to send a message to the rest of the globe and change their reputation in the wake of the corruption scandal, then removing the World Cup from Qatar would be the best way to do it.
Drake
Guest
Listen. I can see from the point of view of a lot of people and whether there is hypocrisy or not, it does not matter. Since honestly in my opinion, yes there is hypocrisy present but it is not intended. Since it is clear that it's not as if Luke is ignoring his surroundings and the things going on around him as he lives there. If he can recognise what is happening over seas it's a good assumption he can do so where he lives. Now I understand how some people can play dumb but I find that to be utterly pointless if he did and if he did then honestly I will say that he is a complete hypocrite who talks complete crap. But that does not appear to be the case as he is simply supporting the values of human life in other countries and however people could have given him trouble for apparent hypocrisy because of this post, that did not stop him from talking about the issue which I find is more impressive than questionable. Finally I ask, why would he tackle anything outside the world of sport since that is the whole point of this website. If anyone disagrees with this then that's not my business and I don't really care. I am not looking for an argument either. I am simply showing my support for this writer since whatever the topic I just didn't like how much backlash he was getting from a well intended post.
mick
Guest
great response AGO it is a sad reality but for many this is an opportunity to break the cyclical cycle of farming or back breaking work their families are use to (re workers in china and india), Infact research was done in 2005 which suggests even child labour has a percieved positive in the sense that by working for a big name corporation such as the ones dicussed allows children to escape the unfortunate reality of child sex works or looking for scraps to sell on streets. It is a grim reality however when discussion poverty in countries where income inequality and human rights are not high on the agenda everything will be seen as grim. As for Qatar it is modern day slavery, an in house sponsor refusing to let you leave.
MQ
Guest
The fact that there will be fewer boors and drunkards attending might make the Qatar a worthwhile WC to see.
AGO74
Guest
I actually don’t disagree with a lot of the things you note re the manufacturing of consumer goods etc as it is generally true. That said at least the workers in China, India etc generally (albeit not always in the worst cases) will get to go home to their families and more directly provide for their families. This is clearly not the case in Qatar where the workers passports are confiscated by their “host” and will not be able to return home for years as they are Held against their will in a state which sponsors this style of system. In other words the situation in Qatar (as well as Dubai which operates similar practices) is on a whole other level of brutality. You seemingly don’t dispute that the Qatari work practices to deliver this World Cup have lead to the deaths of hundreds and exploitation of thousands. This is a shocking state of affairs even in a world where workers are more likely to be exploited than not. Hence I find your closing statement that you “can’t wait” for the Qataris deliver an FU to the world frankly abhorrent.
AGO74
Guest
Qatar is about as representative of the Middle East as Toorak or Mosman are of ordinary Australia.
Torchbearer
Guest
I was in Qatar yesterday and last month. I have been to over 50 countries in the last 10 years...My problem with Doha and Qatar is that IT IS A TOTAL DUMP. Being a country of only 400,000 people (and 2 million more foreign workers) means there is pretty much no country. Like hosting ALL the World Cup in Canberrra or Newcastle. For a country with the highest per capita income, it is hard to believe what an unplanned horrible city Doha is. It is desert and dust. And building sites. And busy roads. There is no city centre. No pedestrians as nothing is walkable in distance or weather terms (it was 46 and 55 percent humidity yesterday). A few trophy buildings spread out here and there. There are huge posters of the dictator on everything. Dubai seems like Paris compared to Doha- and it aint great. I love new frontiers- a World Cup across the MIddle East may have been great. But having the whole thing in this dusty, run down, tinpot state is going to be horrible.
chris
Guest
adio maybe you're right. Who wouldn't want to work in one of Apples sub contracting companies where workers are basically walking zombies from lack of sleep and being poisoned from the carcinogenic fluids they use to make your iPhone. Beats breaking rocks on the farm!
chris
Guest
Max educate yourself and read about Apple and the chemicals it uses to produce its products in China. Read about the impacts on Chinese workers.
Max Danger
Guest
Ad-o , these guys throw all sense out of the window once their game is attacked
Max Danger
Guest
yeah, qatar is not the same as Russia football forever
Max Danger
Guest
please explain how amazon is worse than these slaves dying? i am ready
Max Danger
Guest
please explain how apple is worse than thousands of slaves dying for a few non permanent stadiums
Max Danger
Guest
thank you to the 4 football heads who will justify anything football related
Max Danger
Guest
Nemesis, your reply was Utter hypocritical, self-serving rubbish. you will ignore any facts if it means defending your precious sport the examples you give are poor. millions of workers have risen from poverty making western goods. not under great conditions but far far better than the slavery that happens in Qatar. you use Dubai as an example - yes it was built in the same way and people have complained about that too. but when the argument is centred around your precious game - you ignore it. comapring Australian mining companies and Qatar slavery is laughable but ive been reading your bias views for years
Max danger
Guest
Yeah slavery and thousands dying isn’t important Qatar doesn’t have to listen but FIFA may
Ad-O
Guest
What a load of codswallop. The situation in Qatar is completely different to Apple manufacturing phones overseas. You, sitting in your comfortable western office, may feel like an Apple factory worker getting paid $1 an hour is exploitation. But for him, that is an opportunity to provide for his or her family that wouldn't exist if Apple were forced to pay $10. That worker, along with billions of others in Asia, have decided they are better off doing that than breaking rocks on a farm and living in absolute poverty in a rural area. It's those personal decisions that have seen a revolution in the living standards of people across the 3rd world over the last 40 years. Forcing Western standards upon them will just see their economy and their quality of life go backwards.
Nemesis
Guest
Stadiums in Russia were filled to capacity for most matches. 64 matches featuring 32 nations. This tournament has been a huge success. Average attendance 46.7k
Holly
Guest
I bet Qatar will be scratching it's head during the event trying to work out why so many empty seats in the stands and so few tourists attended .just like so many empty seats in the stands at Russia 2018 .resepct for human life is more valued in the western world than it is in oil rich Qatar where greed and corruption rein supreme.
Sam
Guest
As you say- we are football - screw morals, justice and corruption. Yes FIFA is football.
Redondo
Guest
Hans - you need to pay more attention to the world. If reading is a struggle there's plenty of stuff online that will educate you.