Photo credit: Firstpost
FIFA is under fire after rejecting calls to monitor the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia who will be hosting the 2034 World Cup.
Firstpost reports that the move has sparked criticism from human rights activists, accusing the governing body of turning a blind eye to abuses as Saudi Arabia positions itself as a major player in global sports.
Saudi Arabia was officially announced as the host of the 2034 World Cup in December 2024, raising concerns about its “poor” human rights record and treatment of immigrant workers. As a result, the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), which represents 18 million African workers wrote to FIFA last month demanding increased protection for immigrant workers in the buildup to the 2023 World Cup.
However, FIFA has reportedly rejected the calls, stating that the current mechanism should be enough, according to The Guardian.
The world football body also stated that its regulations mandate that World Cup hosts “uphold their respective duties and responsibilities under international human rights standards in all activities associated with the tournament”.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had admitted while announcing the 2034 hosts that Saudi Arabia faces criticism over its poor human rights record. He said, “We are of course aware of critics and fears. I fully trust our hosts to address all open points, and I fully expect them to deliver tournaments that meet the world’s expectations. This is what we expect and look forward to: social improvements, positive human rights impacts. The world will be watching, and it is positive that the unique spotlight of the World Cup is on what can and should be improved so this can be addressed effectively, and we can have real and lasting change.”
Steve Cockburn Amnesty head of labour rights and sport had back then criticized FIDA for awarding the World Cup to Saudi Arabia and said that the lack of commitment from the footballing body towards ensuring adequate protection for workers will “put many lives at risk”.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) had asked FIFA to intervene and ensure that the kafala system of labour is ended and independent monitors are allowed to assess workers’ conditions.
FIFA’s General Secretary Mattias Grafstrom replied saying the Saudis have already committed to building “a workers’ welfare system to monitor compliance with labour rights standards for tournament-related workers” in their bid.
Saudi Arabia is currently home to an estimated 10 million migrant workers. They are expected to form the backbone of the workforce required to construct the extensive infrastructure for the World Cup. The projects include the construction of 11 brand-new stadiums, expanded transport networks, and approximately 185,000 additional hotel rooms.
