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2022 FIFA World Cup: Amnesty demands over €400m in damages for Qatar workers

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Amnesty Internatio­nal has called on FIFA to compensate migrant workers in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

The NGO has demanded that football's world governing body pay at least $440 million (€ 416 million) in damages.

World Cup host Qatar has been repeatedly criticised for "abusing" migrant workers' rights on constructi­on sites, while FIFA has also been slammed for its response to the allegation­s.

"FIFA should spend at least $440 million to repair the damage suffered by hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who were victims of human rights abuses in Qatar during preparatio­ns for the 2022 World Cup," Amnesty said in a statement.

The sum -- according to the NGO -- is equivalent to the prize money that will be shared by the 32 countries participat­ing in the World Cup.

Amnesty added that the com-pensation is the "minimum necessary" to compensate the workers and protect them from future violations.

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"With six months to go before the World Cup kicks off, abuses will continue unabated unless the action plan put in place by FIFA and its partners is properly implemente­d," the statement read.

"However, it is already too late to erase the past suffering, and it is time for FIFA and Qatar to put things right."

Amnesty did however wel-come social reforms in Qatar since 2018 and some improvemen­t to working conditions on the World Cup constructi­on sites.

In a comment sent to AFP, FIFA said it was "currently assessing the proposal of Amnesty" and other NGOs.

Qatar meanwhile firmly rejects the number of deaths on the building sites that have been quoted by internatio­nal media and human rights organisati­ons.

 ?? ?? Workers pictured at the Lusail Stadium, while under constructi­on in December 2019.
Workers pictured at the Lusail Stadium, while under constructi­on in December 2019.

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