Doha: FIFA Ethics and Regulations Watch (FERW) has hailed the measures taken by the State of Qatar in the bid to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, praising the positive measures and significant improvements in workers’ rights and the legislative and legal measures, stressing that these measures are in the interest of preserving the dignity of the workers.
FERW confirmed that Qatar presents a role model in dealing with the hosting file. It indicated that its observations on the ground proved the falseness of the allegations circulated by some foreign media, pointing out that the Qatari model in dealing with the hosting file is a model for all countries.
This came during a press conference held on Thursday by FERW on the occasion of issuing its report on this file after its visit to Doha. Alistair Thompson, FERW president, and Robert Oulds, Director of the Bruges Group and an FERW manager, spoke at the press conference.
FERW had paid a three-day visit to Qatar at the invitation of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC). The FERW team held meetings with officials from NHRC, the Ministry of Labor, and the ILO office in Doha. It also conducted interviews with workers and visited the residences of workers of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 projects.
During the conference, the two speakers praised the openness and transparency that the FERW delegation saw from the officials and those in charge of the bid to host the 2022 world cup, indicating that their observations on the ground exceeded expectations.
The two speakers denounced the prejudiced press reports issued by some Western media against the hosting bid, stressing that these reports indicated exaggerations in the number of deaths among workers in World Cup projects during the past ten years. They underlined that these exaggerations in numbers contradict reality and are a falsification of facts. They explained that these deaths are not related to the world cup infrastructure projects, but rather the total deaths of workers during that period. They pointed out that the real number of deaths did not exceed three workers, a much lower number than other countries’ infrastructure projects to host major tournaments.
Moreover, they expressed satisfaction with what they witnessed on the ground, praising the modern medical facilities of the country and the measures taken by the state to ensure the well-being of those working at the world cup projects.
Alistair Thompson, FERW president, praised the cooperation and openness he witnessed during his visit to Qatar to find out the measures it took in its bid to host the world cup. He indicated that his meetings with officials from the Ministry of Labor, the ILO office in Doha, and NHRC highlighted accurately the facts and actions taken on the ground, indicating that this was reflected in the FERW report.
Thompson indicated that the report’s goal is to clarify the facts from a neutral academic point of view. He pointed out there are disturbing rumours issued by some Western media, which he said were proven false on the ground. He referred to the praise by ILO of Qatar’s measures to improve the workers’ conditions and ensure that they obtain their rights.
FERW president praised the model stadiums built by Qatar with safe and sound foundations, stressing that several issues were not properly reported in the reports issued by some authorities.
Thompson also talked about his field visit to the Workers’ City and praised what he saw on the ground, indicating that more than 70,000 workers are enjoying wonderful living conditions, pointing to the entertainment facilities in the Workers’ City and the outdoor spaces to exercise. The UK doesn’t have such facilities for workers, he said.
FERW president pointed out that the organisation’s goal in this visit was to see the reality closely, convey the true picture and correct the course of those media outlets, stressing the need for strict standards of professionalism and impartiality and that all media outlets in all countries abide by them.
Director of the Bruges Group and an FERW manager, Robert Oulds expressed admiration for the progress witnessed by Qatar and the openness of the labour market, pointing out that Qatar has given the world an example to follow and has achieved what astounds people abroad.
Oulds referred to the positive reports that praise Qatar’s procedures for hosting the tournament and indicated that the organisation had undertaken research and audit to clarify the truth, by conducting interviews with those responsible for this file and through opinion polls for infrastructure workers associated with projects hosting the world cup or those who had previously worked there.
He added that FERW has looked at the legislation and the amendments made to it, and the impact the changes and improvements have had on the ground, pointing out that FERW found that the situation is better than what was stated in the positive reports issued in this regard. He stressed that the Qatari model is one of the most beautiful success stories that should be told to people around the world.
Oulds expressed the organisation’s conviction of its results on the ground, praising workers’ conditions and what Qatar has done for Afghan refugees. Unfortunately, the world does not know what Qatar is doing and what is happening on the ground, he said.
He pointed out that what Qatar has provided for this hosting qualifies it to embody a role model to avoid any abuse of workers’ rights, and praised Qatar’s openness to positive criticism and its introduction of the required changes and improvements.
He said the 2022 world cup will represent an opportunity to celebrate sports, adding that it is shameful to spread lies about this file. He explained that FERW is interested in clarifying the facts and exposing lies, adding that this is an opportunity to correct the image. FERW is an independent body that monitors and reports on ethical standards and implements corruption-free sports, focusing on football and its main governing body, FIFA.
