Fifa must publish an independent report into its responsibilities to migrant workers in Qatar and begin the process of providing financial compensation, Amnesty International has said.
The human rights organisation has called on Fifa to finally publish the report by Michael Llamas, president of the Gibraltar Football Association, before its congress in Bangkok next week. According to those familiar with the process, the Llamas report has found Fifa has a responsibility to provide financial remedy to workers or the families of workers involved in 2022 World Cup projects in Qatar and that its conclusions were approved by the executive Fifa council in March. The Guardian understands the report is under review by Fifa stakeholders but that the governing body remains committed to its publication.
“Ahead of its annual congress next week Fifa should make public the review it ordered into the organisation’s responsibilities to redress human rights abuses related to the 2022 World Cup and respond positively and rapidly to its recommendations,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s head of labour rights and sport.
“Fifa received this review months ago but has yet to disclose or act on its findings. This delay only prolongs the suffering of families who lost loved ones, and workers who were abused, while delivering Fifa’s flagship event. Fifa cannot erase this pain but it can set out a clear plan to deliver justice and commit some of its vast resources towards remedying the harms it has contributed to.
“A commitment to remedying the abuses related to the last World Cup would be a vital step towards Fifa finally fulfilling its human rights responsibilities and could be life-changing for workers and their families.”
The extent of exploitation of migrant workers in Qatar both during the years running up to the World Cup and during the tournament has been widely acknowledged, including by Fifa, which took steps to increase standards for workers on World Cup projects from 2017. In 2022 Fifa signalled it would be open to considering financial remedy for workers and their families but that position changed during the World Cup, with its president, Gianni Infantino, ultimately announcing that any legacy fund would be used to develop the game across the world instead.
In January Lise Klaveness, the head of the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), who has led criticism of Fifa’s approach towards its legacy in Qatar, insisted the report was “due” and called for more transparency on how the issue was being dealt with.
A spokesperson for the NFF said that publication of the report was only the first step and that money must quickly be “put on the table” to support workers and their families. “There are people who have had to wait a long time for Fifa to take responsibility for their situation and provide compensation,” they said. “An early publication of the report should be followed by swift action.”
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A Fifa spokesperson said: “The report is currently being reviewed and discussed by stakeholders. The findings will be published in due course once the review process has been completed.
”Generally speaking, international experts and trade union representatives who have assessed and collaborated in the labour rights programme for Fifa World Cup workers have repeatedly testified to the robustness of this programme and recognised that major steps forward have occurred in the labour rights sphere.”
