Doha – Gianni Infantino announced Friday FIFA will establish a body to monitor working conditions for labourers at Qatar’s 2022 World Cup stadiums and insisted the tournament would stay in the Gulf.
Speaking during his first visit to Doha as president of world football’s governing body, Infantino said FIFA would act on criticisms it has done little to protect those building venues for its showcase tournament in six years’ time.
“We will not just sit and wait,” he told journalists at a press conference.
“FIFA will step up its efforts in overseeing – in particular the set-up by the (Qatar) Supreme Committee – in order to ensure the protection of the workers’ rights in the construction of the FIFA World Cup sites.” He added that proposal had been welcomed by the “highest Qatari authorities”.
The body would monitor systems in place to ensure decent working conditions, and would be independent, added Infantino.
It is not yet clear who will sit on the committee but Infantino said he wanted it to be “put in place very, very soon.” He added: “FIFA is not the world welfare agency… our job is to govern football, but of course we are aware of our responsibilities.” The initiative was announced after recent criticism suggesting FIFA had done little on the contentious issue of workers welfare.
A recent Amnesty International report, which alleged labour abuses at a World Cup site in Qatar, said FIFA had shown a “lack of meaningful action” on the issue.
Infantino also said on Friday that the 2022 tournament would remain in Qatar.
He denied allegations over workers abuse and an ongoing investigation in Switzerland over corruption claims would see the tournament played elsewhere.
“Of course the World Cup will take place in Qatar in 2022,” he said.
