September 21 – The English FA has added its name to demands that families of migrant workers in Qatar injured or killed while constructing the infrastructure for this year’s World Cup be compensated.
On Tuesday the German FA and four major FIFA sponsors upped the pressure on FIFA and local organisers to offer compensation to migrant workers and their families. Last week a new Amnesty International survey found that 70% of fans want their respective governing bodies to speak out about human rights issues associated with the tournament.
English authorities have so far been reluctant to join the growing clamour to compensate migrant workers but The FA has now called for any worker injury or death on construction projects to be recompensed and will lobby for a Migrant Workers’ Centre to be created in Qatar.
“We continue to push for the principle of compensation for the families of migrant workers who have lost their lives or have been injured in construction projects,” FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said in a statement.
“Again, we are pushing FIFA for an update on the compensation fund which has been consistently referenced as a safety net where workers and their families have been unable to secure compensation from the construction companies.”
Meanwhile the captains of 10 European nations who have qualified for the World Cup will wear an anti-discrimination armband during the tournament in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.
“As captains we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination,” said England’s Harry Kane.
“This is even more relevant at a time when division is common in society. Wearing the armband together on behalf of our teams will send a clear message when the world is watching.”
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