Qatar’s World Cup organising committee has welcomed the Socceroos raising “important matters” but defended the host nation’s efforts to improve the rights and lives of workers.
Australia’s national football team, one of 32 sides competing at next month’s tournament, on Thursday condemned human rights abuses in the gulf nation, becoming the first participant to collectively criticise the host.
Sixteen members of the men’s team appeared in a video voicing concerns about Qatar’s human rights record and calling for further worker reforms, as well as the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships.
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Qatar has faced fierce international pressure over its treatment of foreign workers and restrictive social laws since beind awarded the tournament 12 years ago.
The video, supported by statements from Football Australia and Professional Footballers Australia, has made headlines around the world and been met with mixed reaction.
Asked to respond a spokesperson for Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) said:
“We commend footballers using their platforms to raise awareness for important matters.
“We have committed every effort to ensure that this World Cup has had a transformative impact on improving lives, especially for those involved in constructing the competition and non-competition venues we’re responsible for.
“Protecting the health, safety, security, and dignity of every worker contributing to this World Cup is our priority.
“This is achieved through our commitment to holding contractors accountable via our worker welfare standards, continuous work on enhancing health and safety practices, creating and developing worker representation forums in collaboration with international unions and experts, robust auditing that includes an independent third party monitor, working with contractors to ensure workers who paid recruitment fees are entitled to repayment, and ensuring that these policies lead to a change in work culture that lasts far beyond 2022.”
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The players acknowledged Qatar’s attempts to improve working conditions for migrants but said these changes had been “inconsistent”.
“The Qatari government’s labour reforms are acknowledged by the ILO, ITUC, and numerous human rights organisations as the benchmark in the region,” the SC spokesperson said.
“New laws and reforms often take time to bed in, and robust implementation of labour laws is a global challenge, including in Australia.
“No country is perfect, and every country – hosts of major events or not – has its challenges.
“This World Cup has contributed to a legacy of progress, better practice, and improving lives – and it’s a legacy that will live long after the final ball is kicked.”
Before making the statement, the Australian players spoke to labour organisations and advocacy groups such as Amnesty International. which has urged Qatar and FIFA to do more to compensate workers who died or suffered injury on Qatar’s mega projects.
“Over the last two years, we have been on a journey to understand and know more about the situation in Qatar,” said Socceroos captain Mat Ryan.
FA also released a statement critical of Qatar’s human rights record.
“We acknowledge the significant progress and legislative reforms (that) have occurred in Qatar over recent years to recognise and protect the rights of workers, and we encourage all stakeholders to continue this path to reform,” it said.
“However, we have also learned that the tournament has been associated with suffering for some migrant workers and their families and this cannot be ignored.”
Football Australia urged the energy-rich country to take a softer stance towards same-sex relationships, which are currently illegal in Qatar.
“As the most multicultural, diverse, and inclusive sport in our country, we believe everyone should be able to feel safe and be their true authentic selves,” Football Australia said.
The SC did not respond directly to the Socceroos’ pleas for the legacy of the tournament to include the establisnment of a migrant resource centre and the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships.
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