FIFA should be appalled

Fifa must address abuse of 2022 World Cup workers in Qatar, Amnesty says

Fifa, international football’s governing body, must urgently address Qatar’s exploitation of migrant workers that has become “routine and widespread”, a new report warns.

Amnesty International has confirmed accounts of thousands of migrants trapped inside labour camps having been “deceived” into joining the country’s construction frenzy ahead of the 2022 World Cup. ...

See the whole story here, courtesy of The Independent.

Kicking Back Comments: For those who have the time, I strongly urge you to read the Amnesty International report here (pdf). It is dense at 167 pages, but very well done in documenting the crimes being done to these migrant workers.

FIFA's response (on page 167) from the Secretary General (Valcke) [I guess it didn't even get Sepp's attention] was pathetic ... basically saying ... thanks for the info ... we take human rights seriously ... we are busy with 2014 and 2018 right now ... but promise to talk with the host nation soon to sort this all out.

I'm serious, read the letter on p. 167 ...

Fortunately the host countries letter (immediately before FIFA's completely inadequate response) was much more thorough it its reply.

If you don't have time for the whole read, at least take a peek at pp. 17 - 30 for one company's practices.

I was recently asked why I have such a axe to grind with FIFA. Was it because I never made the list? Was it because I was bitter in finishing my career? Was it for some other yet unexplained reason?

While none of those ... I simply said that FIFA has the ability to do so much good if they really wanted to. Here is a case they can make a real difference in the lives of these migrant workers and get between the host committee and the workers and say NO MORE.

Qatar is the richest country per capita on the planet earth ... FIFA is among the most influential organizations in the sporting world and in not too long from now are going to make BILLIONS on a World Cup held there ... people can't look at me with a straight face and say that his highness Sepp (not the Emir of Qatar) is powerless to do anything meaningful?

Yep, he visited Qatar in early November and pledged and promised ... as people are dying in building stadia to line his pockets.

I don't like FIFA because it has lost its way from being an ambassador of good will for the world, to being an ATM machine for a very few.

For that it should be appalled ... at least the good people there ... my fear is they are not.