Philip Patrick Philip Patrick

How does ‘taking the knee’ help Qatar’s World Cup slaves?

England players 'take the knee' during their World Cup qualifier (Getty images)

What was going through the minds of England players as they took the knee, yet again, prior to their victory over Poland in their 2022 World Cup qualifier at Wembley last week? George Floyd? Racism in sport? Nothing in particular? 

We’ll never know. But it seems unlikely they were thinking too hard about the destination where, if their good form holds, they will be representing their country next winter: the tiny gulf state of Qatar. If they had, they might have spared a thought, and perhaps a gesture, for the 6,500 migrant workers estimated to have died since Qatar won the right to host next year’s tournament.

The issue of migrant worker deaths in Qatar has been a running sore, which has become inflamed again as the qualifiers have got under way. Reports that workers were being seriously exploited first emerged in an Amnesty International report in 2013. This led to an inspection visit from the ITUC (International Trades Union Congress), who found dangerous and unsanitary conditions and described a situation akin to modern slavery. 

In the years since, the drip drip of appalling stories – of workers electrocuted, falling from construction sites or taking their own lives – has continued. Many of those who have died are poor migrant workers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The number of dead is hotly disputed by the Qataris and has not been independently verified. But the stories of misery at least call into question the wisdom of allowing Qatar to host the tournament.

Workers’ rights have dominated the headlines about the Qatar World Cup, but it is not the only reason for disquiet

The fresh data and renewed focus on the problem provoked calls in Norway for their national team to boycott the tournament and led the Norwegian FA to set up a committee of enquiry to decide on an official response.

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