Qatar World Cup chief executive has come under criticism from human rights groups for saying “death is a natural part of life” on the issue of migrant worker’s death at the tournament.
FIFA on Thursday confirmed a migrant worker’s death at the resort used by Saudi Arabia during the group stages at the World Cup in Qatar, according to a CNN report.
“FIFA is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and sympathies are with the worker’s family,” a spokesperson for the world football governing body told the US news channel.
“As soon as FIFA was made aware of the accident, we contacted the local authorities to request more details,” the statement added.
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A Filipino national died at the time of repair work at a resort used as a training base by the Saudi Arabian team, the BBC report quoting sports publication The Athletic.
The treatment of migrant workers during the World Cup remained one of the main controversies overshadowing the build-up to the World Cup. The tournament’s supreme committee said the worker was “not working under its remit” and the incident took place “on property not under its jurisdiction”.
The issue is being investigated by the Qatari authorities.
Nasser Al Khater ‘disappointed’ over questions on migrant death
Tournament boss Nasser Al Khater told news agency Reuters in an interview that he was “disappointed” at journalists’ questions on the matter, reported BBC.
“This is something you want to talk about right now?” Al Khater said. “I mean, death is a natural part of life, whether it’s at work, whether it’s in your sleep. “Of course, a worker died. Our condolences go to his family. However, I mean it is strange that this is something you want to focus on as your first question.”
Al Khater added, “Look, workers’ deaths has been a big subject during the World Cup. Everything that has been said and everything that has been reflected about workers’ deaths has been absolutely false.”
“This theme, this negativity around the World Cup has been something that we’ve been faced with. We’re a bit disappointed that the journalists have been exacerbating this false narrative. And honestly, I think a lot of the journalists have to ask themselves and reflect on why they’ve been trying to bang on about the subject for so long.”
“The Qatari official’s comment displays a callous disregard for the migrant worker who has died,” said Human Rights Watch representative Rothna Begum. “His statement that deaths happen and that it’s natural when it does, ignores the truth that many migrant worker deaths were preventable,” the BBC report quoted her as saying.