By Paul Nicholson and Andrew Warshaw
November 27 – Trapped French-Algerian footballer Zahir Belounis’ was finally granted his exit visa today and will leave Qatar on Thursday, bringing to an end a tortuous saga that made worldwide headlines and heaped embarrassment on the Qatari authorities.
Insideworldfootball reported exclusively on Monday that Belounis was likely to be granted his exit visa this week (http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-cup/62-qatar/13676-exclusive-new-hope-that-belounis-could-receive-qatar-exit-visa-in-days).
Having had such promises before, which never materialised, the latest pledge was at first being treated with some nervousness, but this time the Qataris have kept their word.
Speaking from Paris, Belounis’ brother Mahdi told InsideWorldFootball: “It’s a fantastic day for all the family. He called me this morning really early to tell me he had the visa. It’s the first time I’ve heard my brother so happy for ages. He’s arriving at 7.30pm tomorrow night with his wife and two daughters. I can’t wait to see him. There will be a big celebration.”
Belounis was caught up in the kafala employment system that ties migrant workers to sponsoring employers who hold their employment rights in the region as well as deciding when they can leave the country. Belounis was claiming 18 months of unpaid wages and had taken these claims to court.
Until now, high level requests for his release, including from French prime minister Francois Hollande, had fallen on deaf ears. Belounis, who has said he is a “destroyed” man after having to sell all his possessions, is believed to be on medication for depression and had talked of suicide.
His release from his ‘kafala’ contract will be a relief to his family and campaigners on his behalf, but also to many Qataris who will hope that the spotlight on their country will now become more positive as it discusses its internal roadmap to change its labour laws – a process the Qataris have repeatedly said must come through the legal process in the country and be amended before full-scale construction begins on the 2022 World Cup.
FIFPro announced yesterday that it was sending a delegation to Qatar (November 28) to discuss with local football authorities players rights – Belounis would have been part of those discussions.
The FIFPro delegation will be led by Danish FIFPro board member Mads Øland who will is travelling with representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
FIFPro’s primary objective for the trip is to redirect discussion back to footballers and their conditions via the meetings with the Qatar FA and 2022 organisers.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734850476labto1734850476ofdlr1734850476owedi1734850476sni@n1734850476osloh1734850476cin.l1734850476uap1734850476