Gareth: Cup staff want to kick off event
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate believes workers in Qatar are “united” in their desire for the World Cup to go ahead.
Qatar has been strongly criticised for its human rights record and the conditions in which thousands of migrant workers have been subjected to as they build the infrastructure needed for the tournament, which kicks off on November 20. Qatar has also been criticised for its ANTILGBTQ laws.
Southgate said he would continue to speak out about human rights issues before and during the tournament, but in an interview with CNN he said there was no question it should go ahead.
“I’ve been out to Qatar several times and I’ve met with lots of the workers out there and they are united in certainly one thing, that’s that they want the tournament to happen, and they want that because they love football,” he said. “They want the football to come to Qatar.”
A report published by The Guardian last year – “categorically” denied by authorities – said 6,500 migrant workers had died in Qatar since it was awarded the World Cup 10 years ago.
Amnesty International published a briefing last month - ‘Unfinished Business: what Qatar must do to fulfil promises on migrant workers’ rights’ which found that thousands of workers are still being denied wages or having them delayed, being denied rest days, being exposed to unsafe working conditions, facing barriers to changing jobs and in accessing justice. Amnesty recognised that the 2017 overhaul of Qatar’s labour system has led to improvements in conditions for the two million migrant workers in the country but said a failure to fully enforce or implement these changes was undermining progress.
A statement issued last month on behalf of the Supreme Committee, which is responsible for organising the tournament, read: “The advancements in workers’ welfare is a legacy we are very proud of, and one that we are already seeing in action.
“We have always believed that the World Cup will be a catalyst to accelerate positive initiatives, leaving a legacy of meaningful and sustainable progress for the country and region.”