Most FIFA World Cup Fans Back Compensation for Qatar Migrant Workers

 

A vast majority of World Cup fans support the idea of FIFA compensating migrant workers for rights abuses during preparations for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

A poll commissioned by Amnesty International showed that people want FIFA to compensate migrant workers. Amnesty International said in a statement that the YouGov poll surveyed more than 17,000 adults from 15 countries, including Europe, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Morocco and Kenya. Around Seventy-three per cent of respondents said they “strongly support" or “tend to support" football’s governing body, FIFA, using some of its 2022 World Cup revenues to compensate the vulnerable migrant workers.

Amnesty’s Steve Cockburn said in a statement, “There is still time for FIFA to do the right thing. Supporters don’t want a World Cup that’s affected by human rights abuses.”

In response, FIFA said it took note of the poll. However, the football governing body said that some of the respondents may not be aware of the measures implemented in recent years by FIFA and its partners in Qatar to protect workers.

FIFA said in a statement, “Workers have been compensated in various forms. FIFA will continue its efforts to enable remediation for workers.”

Reportedly, over 24,000 workers suffered human rights abuses in Qatar. According to media reports, workers who built the Al Bayt Stadium were not paid for up to seven months. The majority of the abuse of the rights cases were related to non-payment of salaries. Several human rights groups also claimed that working conditions led to the death of some workers.

Amnesty International also said that security guards were forced to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. They did not get a day off for months or even years. Amnesty also urged FIFA to act over the reports of alleged abuse of security workers in Qatar.