Tone-deaf
Gianni Infantino provided an astonishing answer when he was questioned about the ongoing issue surrounding the treatment of migrant workers at the Qatar World Cup.
Workers have been subject to abhorrent conditions
The build-up to the World Cup has been overshadowed by some of the appalling conditions that workers helping to prepare the Arab state for football’s biggest tournament.
As well as the abhorrent tales of abuse migrant workers have suffered, Qatar have also been condemned for their ban on homosexuality, with members of the LGBTQ+ community also being advised to be careful should they choose to go to the World Cup.
Human rights activist groups such as Amnesty International have called upon nations to take a stand and boycott the tournament and the latest comments from FIFA president Gianni Infantino will no doubt leave a sour taste in the mouth of many.
When asked about the ongoing issues in the Middle East at a business conference in California, Infantino stunned the audience with a tone-deaf comment in which he compared the abuse migrant workers had suffered to the way
FIFA President Gianni Infantino asked at a business conference in California about migrant worker abuses in Qatar said in part: "My parents emigrated from Italy to Switzerland. When you give work to someone, even in hard conditions. you give him dignity and pride."
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) May 2, 2022
“My parents emigrated from Italy to Switzerland. When you give work to someone, even in hard conditions. you give him dignity and pride,” he said.
An investigation in April revealed that organisers of the World Cup admitted to exploiting migrant workers while under contract during preparations for the tournament.
In addition to working over the maximum working hours of 60 per week, some workers even went months (and in some cases, years) without having a day off.
"People need to know these issues, the real stories of the people who have gone there."
What it costs to build a World Cup. The toll taken on a migrant worker who spent four years in Qatar.
✍️ @SmnLlyd5https://t.co/oEloXzxRN8
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 1, 2022
“These violations were completely unacceptable and led to a range of measures being enforced, including placing contractors on a watch-list or black-list to avoid them working on future projects – including the FIFA World Cup – before reporting said contractors to the Ministry of Labour for further investigation and punitive action.”
The World Cup begins on November 21, with the final due to take place on December 18.
Related links:
- Qatar World Cup organisers admit to exploitation of migrant workers
- Qatar World Cup Committee accused of ignoring LGBTQ+ groups’ requests
- Qatar World Cup chief executive claims LGBTQ community will be ‘welcome’ at tournament
