Exploitation in Qatar – FIFA refuses compensation

At the urging of the Norwegian association, FIFA commissioned an investigation into the exploitation of workers in Qatar. As a result, compensation payments were recommended – but FIFA does not see itself as legally obliged.

At the end of November, FIFA published the investigation report it had commissioned, which was already completed at the end of 2023. This included recommendations to FIFA, including compensation payments to workers or their families if, for example, injuries, deaths or unpaid wages occurred during World Cup preparations in Qatar.

All recommendations were taken into account in a comprehensive review by FIFA and the responsible committees, FIFA said at Sportschau’s request. But “not all recommendations” could be implemented. “It should be noted that the study does not constitute a legal assessment of the obligation to pay compensation”said FIFA.

reports Shared responsibility FIFA for the exploitation of workers

The report prepared by the organization “Human Level”, for example, criticizes the fact that numerous migrant workers had to work under inhumane conditions during the World Cup preparations. They faced extreme heat, long working hours, poor housing and irregular wage payments. In addition, many workers had to pay high recruitment fees, which drove them into a debt trap.

The report criticizes the fact that FIFA cooperated with the Qatari authorities but did not do enough to prevent these abuses. FIFA failed to fulfill its human rights obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

A central issue is the lack of compensation for affected workers. The report highlights that many workers who have suffered injuries or even deaths have not yet received adequate compensation. FIFA reported revenue of more than $7 billion from the tournament.

Chairman of FIFA’s Human Rights Committee speaks of “disappointment”

Michael Llamas is President of the Gibraltar Football Association and chairs the FIFA Subcommittee on Human Rights and Social Responsibility. According to the document, this body, under his leadership, also supported the report’s recommendation that FIFA pay compensation.

“It is clear that compensation was one of the results that people and civil society were waiting for. That did not happen”said Michael Llamas on “GBC News”, a local television station in Gibraltar. “Of course there is great disappointment about this” he said in response to FIFA’s conclusion that he sees no obligation. However, the issue is “complex”. However, he does not see the work of his committee as being “undermined”.

Neuendorf 2023: “We have a responsibility”

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said at a panel discussion in Cologne in January 2023 that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had promised compensation payments. “But we don’t know exactly how it’s supposed to work. That’s our job now, not to say that the World Cup in Qatar is over and we’re turning our attention to other major events in football. That shouldn’t happen here.” Neuendorf said at the time: “We now have to see whether they (compensation, the editorial team) are actually implemented and how they are implemented, we are responsible for that.”

At a media roundtable in early December 2024, when declaring his support for Saudi Arabia’s World Cup bid, Neuendorf said: “It is progress for FIFA that it has submitted the report.” It is a pointer to Saudi Arabia as to which direction they should work in the next ten years. Neuendorf did not comment on FIFA’s assessment of the lack of obligation to pay compensation during the media round. The DFB also did not comment on a current request from Sportschau.

FIFA’s “Legacy Fund” only refers to the future

The report by “Human Level” suggests using the so-called “Legacy Fund” for the FIFA 2022 World Cup for compensation payments. Shortly before the report was published, however, FIFA published the planned use of the fund with its 50 million US dollars: It will be used for future-oriented social initiatives in collaboration with the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization and the UN Commission for Refugees. It is therefore not intended to be used retrospectively for compensation. When asked, FIFA writes that it is convinced that the fund “is a pragmatic and transparent initiative that includes social programs to help the most vulnerable people around the world”.

At Sportschau’s request, FIFA also refers to a state program in Qatar worth $350 million through which workers can apply for money. The human rights organization Amnesty International criticized in 2022 that access to this money was associated with significant obstacles for the workers or their survivors. This means that the Qatari authorities have officially registered the majority of deaths as “natural deaths” and then no compensation will be paid. “In addition, it is virtually impossible for workers or their families to apply for money in Qatar after they return to their home countries.”

Qatar’s Labor Minister Sheikh Ali bin Samikh Al Marri also referred to the state program in 2022 and described to the AFP news agency the establishment of another compensation program by FIFA, which was discussed at the time “PR stunt”.