Why are football teams protesting against Qatar 2022 World Cup?
Al JazeeraAhead of qualifiers, Norway, Germany and Netherlands footballers have protested Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers. Footballers are staging on-field protests in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers to highlight Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record that have been under the spotlight since it was awarded the hosting of next year’s tournament. There have also been protests against harsh working conditions, especially during the summer when temperature often goes past 40C, wage abuse – including on a World Cup stadium site – and lack of rights afforded to migrant workers, who comprise about 95 percent of Qatar’s population. The German team lined up in black shirts, each with one white letter to spell out “HUMAN RIGHTS” but its football association said it was opposed to boycotting the World Cup. In response to the report earlier this month, Qatar’s World Cup organising committee said it has “always been transparent about the health and safety of workers”.