Klaveness’s comments came just a day after global players’ union FIFPRO and a global union federation published an open letter criticizing Qatar for the persistently poor working conditions for migrants ahead of December’s tournament, although they saw some “encouraging signs” noted of progress.”
Klaveness, a former Norwegian national team player and the country’s first female football president, said the sport’s “core interests” were disregarded when Qatar won the 2010 bid.
“Human rights, equality, democracy: the core interests of football were not in the starting XI until many years later,” Klaveness told the delegation in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
“These fundamental rights have mainly been pushed onto the pitch from outside as a substitute. FIFA has addressed these issues but there is still a long way to go.”
Questions about human rights issues in Qatar, particularly the treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community, were constantly asked ahead of the tournament.
The Guardian reported last year that in the decade since Qatar’s successful bid to host the tournament in 2010, 6,500 migrant workers had died in the country, most of them involved in dangerous, low-wage work, often in extreme heat.
The report — “categorically” dismissed by tournament organizer chief executive Nasser Al Khater — did not link all 6,500 deaths to World Cup infrastructure projects and was not independently verified by CNN.
Because homosexuality is illegal and carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, Josh Cavallo, currently the only openly gay player in men’s top-flight football, said in November that he would be “terrified” of playing in Qatar. Al Khater told CNN he was “welcome,” adding that Qatar is a “tolerant” and “hospitable” country.
“FIFA must set the tone and take the lead”
Addressing both issues without mentioning Qatar by name, Klaveness said Norway considered boycotting the World Cup but decided “dialogue and pressure” was the better solution.
“The injured migrant workers or the families of those who died in the run-up to the World Cup must be cared for,” Klaveness continued.
“There is no place for employers who do not guarantee the freedom and security of WM workers. No place for leaders who can’t host the women’s game. No place for hosts who cannot legally guarantee the safety and respect of LGBTQ+ people who come to this theater of dreams.
“FIFA has to set the tone and take the lead,” she added.
Qatar 2022 general secretary Hassan Al Thawadi then took to the stage and dismissed some of the Norwegian FA president’s claims, stressing that his nation had “…put 12 years of uninterrupted work into staging a tournament that leaves real social, human and economic changes and ecological legacies.”
Al Thawadi further expressed his disappointment that Klaveness “made no attempt to contact us and attempted to engage in dialogue before addressing Congress.
“We’ve always welcomed constructive criticism, constructive criticism based on discussion that understands issues… and the facts that are on the ground. We will always keep our doors open to anyone who wishes to understand the issues… and educate yourself before passing judgement.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino later told the delegation that Qatar had done an “exemplary” job in terms of changing human rights issues, adding that labor law reforms in the country had been “incredible”.
“The only way to bring about positive change is through commitment and dialogue,” said Infantino, stressing that in Qatar we are “organizing the best World Cup ever”.
‘He should choose his words very carefully’: Al Khater responds to England boss
Last week, England manager Gareth Southgate dismissed calls to boycott the tournament, telling reporters it was important “to use our voice in the right way at the right time”.
In light of Qatar’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, Southgate said earlier this month it would be a “huge shame” for some England fans not to travel to the World Cup because they felt threatened or feared for their personal safety.
Southgate also addressed allegations of poor working conditions for migrants.
“The biggest problem, which is non-religious and non-cultural, is what happened with the construction of the stadiums – and unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it,” Southgate said.
In response on Thursday, Al Khater questioned Southgate’s comments before inviting the England manager to see the terms for himself.
“Because it’s a problem when you support your opinion and you speak loudly about it based on things you’ve read,” Al Khater told Sky Sports.
“Someone with a lot of influence like Southgate, someone with a large audience listening to what they say, should choose their words very carefully.
“There are isolated cases, those are the cases that make it to the media, but I can assure him if he comes here and speaks to the majority of the workers, they will tell you how they got their children through university. She will tell you how they built their homes for themselves and their families.
“No country is perfect… so if someone comes along and says they’re a perfect country, they really have to look at themselves.”
Players’ and workers’ unions call for migrant worker centers
While recognizing “encouraging signs of progress”, an open letter from FIFPRO and the global union federation Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) said preparations for the tournament had been “riddled with human rights scandals and poor working conditions”. “
“Workers continue to be subjected to abusive practices,” said FIFPRO and BWI Secretary Generals Jonas Baer-Hoffman and Ambet Yuson in a statement on Wednesday.
“Unscrupulous employers reject the reforms and will not be held accountable. Workers in the most vulnerable positions from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan and some African countries still fear retaliation when they denounce the exploitation of unpaid wages and long working hours.
“Those who have escaped poverty in their home country fear losing their jobs and wages. They continue to face exploitation and unsafe working conditions.”
To prevent progress from being halted once the “spotlight” dims on the World Cup, the statement called for the creation of a center in Qatar to act as a self-governing “safe space” for foreign workers.
The center would allow workers to “develop skills, learn and seek advice on their workers’ rights… and enable them to engage effectively with Qatari authorities on pressing issues.”
Qatar and FIFA have not yet responded to CNN’s request for comment.
Migrant Worker Cup
On Wednesday, BWI announced the organization of the Migrant Workers’ Cup, a tournament to celebrate those who helped build Qatar’s stadiums and “celebrate work and sport as levers for social change”.
The event, which will be held at Al Jazeera Academy in Doha, will see three teams of migrant workers, footballers and union members from BWI affiliates compete.
“Remember, we owe the migrant workers a debt,” the open letter concluded, “it was they who toiled in the scorching heat to build infrastructure and stadiums.
“They had to endure cramped and inhospitable quarters. Sometimes they risked their lives to send money home to their families. Some of them lost their lives.
“They’re the ones who made this tournament possible… let’s make sure we don’t forget them.”