The other week I was sitting in a car with some friends, one of whom was bragging about attending England’s group stage matches of the coming World Cup in Qatar, to which another responded: “Frankly, I’d rather watch it here with a £3 pint and my tolerant friends.” Call me a fake England fan – but I’m inclined to agree. The tournament’s run-up has been marred with controversy at just about every level. Its award to Qatar by FIFA in 2010 was perplexing and lambasted with allegations of corruption and fraud. The $200bn preparations for the tournament have involved appalling working conditions, and resulted in thousands of deaths of low-wage migrants. This combined with the country’s highly questionable human rights record towards women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, means that all in all, Qatar doesn’t look like the ideal place to host a world cup at first, second, third, or really any glance. So just how problematic is watching or attending the tournament?
Qatar has spent almost 19 times as much money as Russia did on preparations, which is almost remarkable given that the minimum wage most migrant workers were paid came to approximately £1 per hour. Although, food and very sketchy accommodation (at times six workers were allocated a small, grim room or hut) are included in this. Furthermore, Many migrant labourers, from countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, found themselves in debt due to now-illegal recruitment fees ranging from $1300-3000. Until just two years ago, most labourers had to work under ‘Kafala’ conditions, whereby they could not change their job without their employer’s permission – not exactly lightyears away from forced labour. Amnesty International estimate a minimum of 100,000 such labourers have been exploited or suffered abuse because of lax labour laws and improper justice in Qatar since its award of the World Cup 12 years ago. The host nation, it seems, is not exactly a proletariat dream.
The Guardian estimates approximately 6,500 migrant workers have died in the country since 2010
Workers’ exploitation has not been limited to poor wages and accommodation. In the scorching summer heat of Qatar, where temperatures can surpass 45°C, workers were forced to work 14-18 hour days, with Equidem reporting some received no paid overtime for years. Unsurprisingly, the Guardian estimates approximately 6,500 migrant workers have died in the country since 2010 as a result. Disgracefully, Qatar and FIFA president Gianni Infantino have given an official statistic of only 3 worker deaths in the World Cup constructions, and the Supreme Committee announced a further 36 labourer deaths from ‘natural causes’ – apparently if someone drops dead at home after an 18-hour shift in 45° heat, it is for ‘non-work’ reasons. Families of such victims rarely receive compensation for these fatalities, as Qatari labour law means that non-work-related deaths are not entitled to compensation. Amnesty believes FIFA should make $440m (equivalent to the World Cup’s prize money) available as compensation for workers who have died or been injured in the tournament’s preparations. In response, Qatar’s Labour Minister, Ali bin Samikh al-Marri claimed there were, “no criteria to establish such funds,” and that such criticism of the government was ‘racist’. This hardly smacks round the face of a state set on a path towards reform and progress.
Beyond the country’s deadly labour practices, few see Qatar as a beacon of egalitarianism. Under strict Sharia law, men and women who engage in extra-marital sexual relations are liable for up to seven years in prison under Article 281 of the Penal Code. However, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), women are disproportionately affected by the law, often being prosecuted for reporting they have been raped. They report: “police often do not believe women who report such violence, instead believing the men who claim it was consensual.” This culture of legislated victim-blaming is unlikely to make any female fan in attendance feel safe.
Homosexuality is officially punishable by imprisonment, and in some cases, unofficially by beatings and forced ‘conversion’ attempts.
Perhaps the most widely known and questioned policy in Qatar, is that under Article 296, 5 years imprisonment may be issued for, “leading, instigating or seducing a male in any way to commit sodomy or dissipation,” or, “inducing or seducing a male in any way to commit illegal or moral actions.” Dr. Nas Mohamed, the only publicly open LGBTQ+ Qatari, spoke to Sky Sports News about the nation’s hostility to homosexuality: “Besides social rejection, risk of not being able to hold a job or violence from community members, you also run the risk of being really severely harmed by your own family and law enforcement if this information is out.” HRW reported 11 cases of ill-treatment in detention for arbitrarily arrested LGBT people, with six cases of “severe and repeated beatings and five cases of sexual harassment in police custody between 2019 and 2022.” Officially, no such ‘conversion’ centres exist. The nation’s antagonistic stance is clear: homosexuality is officially punishable by imprisonment, and in some cases, unofficially by beatings and forced ‘conversion’ attempts.
FIFA, who so dubiously gave the tournament to Qatar, have encouraged partaking nations to turn a blind eye to the country’s policies regarding women and gay rights, and instead, according to Infantino: “let football take the stage.” The organisation has largely glossed over the atrocious working conditions and thousands of deaths which have occurred. Instead, officials such as Bryan Swanson, FIFA’s Director of Media Communication, have emphasised its positive impact on worker’s rights, claiming: “FIFA remains in positive ongoing dialogue over initiatives that will benefit migrant workers in Qatar, long after the final game of the World Cup.” Such statements are audacious, given no human rights clauses or conditions concerning labour practices were demanded by FIFA in the awarding of the tournament. Whatever piecemeal progress may have been introduced, and while Sepp Blatter does now admit the country’s award was a ‘mistake’, so much damage has already been done, resulting in thousands of avoidable deaths.
Elsewhere, remarkably, England’s football team have shown far more signs of dissent than their own government. UK foreign secretary James Cleverly has faced criticism for ‘tone-deaf’ comments encouraging fans to, “respect the culture of your host nation,” even though the England team flew out on a ‘Gay Pride jet’, and captain Harry Kane will be wearing a rainbow ‘One Love’ captain’s armband during matches. A significant factor in the subdued excitement for the World Cup is that many European cities, including Paris and Barcelona, refusing to show matches in public places or set up ‘fan zones’. However, Despite widespread boycotts, Qatar is expecting 1.2 million visitors.
Personally, I will support England with a pint that doesn’t cost £80, in a pub which no one died building, and where my LGBTQ+ friends are embraced not arrested. However, I fully sympathise with and support anyone who has just read this extensive list of ethical issues with the tournament’s host and decides this is the tournament to miss - and appreciate that for some, the draw of the sport simply overrides any political objections. The coming World Cup has left fans with the rock-and-a-hard-place choice between either refusing to support their team, or refusing to boycott a tournament with an unethical host, and where games are played in stadiums haunted by the deaths of thousands of exploited migrant workers. It feels impossible to unreservedly enjoy it.