Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Unhappy GPS cut hours to stop burnout
human rights groups for a probe into the deaths. The club also rejected a luxury hotel offered to players this week, after claims it had breached labour laws.
Joe Blott, chair of the Liverpool independent supporters’ group Spirit of Shankly, said: “I suspect the vast majority of us were initially opposed to the games being played in Qatar, but our view was it was not for us to impose our
CHAIR OF SUPPORTERS’ GROUP
own particular opinions.” A delegation from Qatar’s Supreme Committee, which is in charge of delivering the World Cup, travelled to Merseyside for three meetings with SOS.
They listened to questions ranging from the treatment of LGBT fans in the strict Muslim country, where homosexuality is banned, to the cost and availability of alcohol. Beer in the Fan Park will be around £5 a pint.
Mr Blott said: “We were able to chat to them about supporter concerns, but also our general political concerns about the regime. They listened to everything we said. We did challenge them on the migrant worker issues, the accommodation they were living in, the low wages.” Fears about potential “zero tolerance” policing have been addressed, with SOS being told security will be “low-key”.mr Blott added: “They want this to be a celebration. They are not looking to penalise thousands of Liverpool fans for inadvertently breaking rules.”
Liverpool play Monterrey of Mexico at the Khalifa International Stadium, a World Cup venue, in the semi today.
The game had been due to take place at the Education City Stadium but the new ground was not ready in time.
If Liverpool win they will go on to face Brazilian giants Flamengo, 3-1 winners over Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal last night, in Saturday’s final.
Reds players yesterday signed autographs for those who had come early.
Supporter Daniel Nicolson, 34, said: “Everyone is really excited to understand and respect the culture.”
MORE than a third of GPS have cut their hours in the last year, with many blaming the demands of the job.
An annual workforce report from the General Medical Council found high numbers of GPS at risk of burnout and high levels of dissatisfaction.
The study of 3,876 doctors also found GPS inappropriately referring patients to hospital while stressed out about their high workload.
It revealed that 18% of GPS are considering leaving medicine entirely within the next year.
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPS, said: “Working full-time in general practice is simply not doable for many.
“This is causing burnout and GPS to leave the job.”