Amnesty International highlights continued worker mistreatment as 2022 World Cup stadium opens

In the week that the newly refurbished Khalifa International Stadium was reopened in Qatar, Amnesty International has restated its concerns over ongoing worker mistreatment on Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup venues.

The 40,000-capacity venue, which is due to host matches up to the quarter-final stage, became the first FIFA World Cup stadium to be finished.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino was among the 40,000 strong crowd at the venue this week to watch Al Sadd, led by Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernández, defeat Al Rayyan 2-1 to lift the 2017 Emir Cup, Qatar's most prestigious trophy.

During the build-up to the 2022 World Cup, criticism has been directed at organisers over the treatment of migrant workers who are helping with stadium construction.

Amnesty International have alleged that FIFA and Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy have not done enough to address the matter, and have even suggested that the tournament could be moved to a different host nation.

James Lynch, Amnesty International's Global Issues Deputy Director, said the problem has not been solved and construction companies continue to treat workers poorly.

Lynch stated “it's a year since Amnesty International exposed the exploitation of migrant workers who helped to build the Khalifa Stadium, but abuses on Qatar 2022 sites have continued.

"Qatar's World Cup organisers have placed special requirements on contractors that are supposed to stop this happening, but the reality is that workers on their sites still live under Qatar's repressive sponsorship system, which gives employers powerful tools to abuse.

"With hundreds of thousands more people being recruited to build and service at least seven more World Cup stadiums, along with the infrastructure to support the tournament, many more migrant workers are at serious risk over the next five years.

"Migrant workers at Khalifa International Stadium have already suffered the consequences of Qatar and FIFA's failure to genuinely address the dangers of Qatar's sponsorship system.

"An urgent rethink is needed to prevent labour abuse becoming the legacy of the 2022 World Cup."

Originally built in 1976, the Khalifa International Stadium hosted athletics at the Asian Games in 2006 as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

It will also welcome the 2019 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athletics Championships.

Work has also started on the Lusail Stadium, the 80,000-seater venue which is scheduled to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

The venue, located around 20 kilometres north of capital city Doha, is also due to stage the opening match of the tournament.

Officials have expressed their confidence that it will be completed by 2020.

Images: The newly refurbished Khalifa International Stadium

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28th June 2016 - ATHLETES COALITION CALLS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO BE CENTRAL TO MEGA-EVENTS 

5th April 2016 - IAAF ‘CLOSELY MONITORING’ QATAR WORKERS’ SITUATION FOLLOWING AMNESTY REPORT

1st April 2016 - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ‘APPALLING TREATMENT’ OF WORKERS BUILDING QATAR WORLD CUP STADIA 

13th March 2016 - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SET TO RELEASE REPORT ON QATAR FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 WORKER CONDITIONS

6th August 2015 - QATAR TO IMPLEMENT LABOUR REFORMS BY END OF YEAR

6th February 2015 - QATAR ASKS FOR TIME TO IMPLEMENT LABOUR REFORMS

7th December 2014 - ARABIAN GULF AGREEMENT ON IMPROVED MIGRANT WORKER CONDITIONS UNLIKELY TO FEND OFF ACTIVIST PRESSURE

15th April 2014 - QATAR GOVERNMENT BACKS MASSIVE INVESTMENT IN SPORT AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE 

8th March 2014 - QATAR MOVES INTO NEXT STAGE OF 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP DEVELOPMENTS

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