LONDON: Migrant workers building a World Cup stadium in Qatar have been struggling to secure pay they are owed, a human rights group and the Qatari government said Wednesday, highlighting ongoing labor issues in the country.
Amnesty International said around 100 workers on the Al Bayt Stadium have had problems securing months of salaries from design and construction subcontractor Qatar Meta Coats.
“Although recent payments will provide some welcome relief for workers, Qatar’s World Cup organizers told us they had known about the salary delays since July 2019,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice. “This raises the question of why Qatar allowed workers to continue working for months without pay.
“For years we have been urging Qatar to reform the system, but clearly change has not come fast enough. It shouldn’t take an Amnesty investigation for workers to be paid what they are owed.”
The workers came from countries including Ghana, Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines, according to Amnesty.
Organizers of the 2022 World Cup said the case was “unacceptable” but said it came to light last year after audits and interviews with workers by their welfare department.
“Our efforts resulted in an initial payment of three months overdue salaries to workers,” the Doha-based organizing committee said. “We continued to exert every effort within our power to redress the issue.”
The government said it was made aware of Qatar Meta Coats’ owed salaries in September 2019, leading to the company being fined and operations suspended.
“Financial insecurity between November 2019 and April 2020 meant that Qatar Meta Coats’ workforce received irregular salary payments during this period,” the government said. “In May 2020, the issue was partially resolved and all salary payments from February to May were paid in full by the company.
“There are a small number of outstanding salary payments preceding February, which will be resolved in the coming days.”
Amnesty said some workers complained in January to Qatar’s labor tribunals.
Qatar was awarded the Middle East’s first World Cup in a FIFA vote in December 2010. Pressure from rights groups on conditions for workers intensified as Qatar started to build the infrastructure it lacked to host a major international sports event.
“There are still issues to overcome, including those related to the attitudes and behaviors of a small minority,” the government said. “This will take time, but we remain firmly committed to the task.”
Qatar World Cup stadium workers struggle to secure salaries
https://arab.news/p96hd
Qatar World Cup stadium workers struggle to secure salaries
- Organizers of the 2022 World Cup said the case was “unacceptable”
- Amnesty said some workers complained in January to Qatar’s labor tribunals
Offensive Iraq-Palestine World Cup qualifier video ‘fabricated,’ says Jordan Football Association
- Fake video shared widely on social media claimed to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans at the Iraqi players and supporters
- Association says it verified the video was fabricated and is dismayed that some people seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans
AMMAN: The Jordanian Football Association expressed regret on Friday over a video widely shared on social media this week that appeared to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans during a World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Palestine.
The footage was fabricated, it said.
The video, which claimed to show Jordanian fans directing insulting chants at the Iraqi players and supporters, began to spread online after Palestine defeated Iraq 2-1 in the match at the Amman International Stadium on Tuesday. It provoked heated exchanges online among the two sets of fans.
The JFA said it regretted the fabricated video and affirmed the depth of the historical, deep-rooted ties between the Jordanian and Iraqi peoples, which it said could not be damaged by people who act in ways that do not reflect true sporting values, the Jordan News Agency reported on Friday.
The association said it had verified the video was fake, and was dismayed that some individuals seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans. It urged supporters in Jordan to avoid being drawn into online exchanges of disrespectful remarks that “do not reflect the values of Jordanians.”
It praised the efforts of Jordanian and Iraqi sports journalists who had attempted to alert their followers on social media to the fact that the video was fake and urge them not to fall victim to such “provocative and inciteful” videos.
The association also reminded fans of the tremendous efforts made by Prince Ali bin Hussein, the president of the JFA, to help lift a long-running FIFA ban on international games in Iraq, and that Jordan had played Iraq in 2017 in the first international game played at Basra International Stadium, which was also the first international game to take place in the country in four years.
The JFA added: “While we support our national team in its quest for direct qualification to the World Cup with all our capabilities, we emphasize the importance of adhering to the spirit of sportsmanship and the depth of shared Arab relations.
“We wish all other Arab teams success in their journey in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.”
Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying
- Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked
- Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Dorival Júnior was fired on Friday after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team.
Júnior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked.
Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically.
Under the 62-year-old Júnior, Brazil won seven matches, drew another seven, and lost two. The team scored 25 goals and conceded 17.
In the Copa America last year, Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Uruguay on penalties.
Rodrigues was just re-elected on Monday to head the confederation to 2030. In 2023, he bet on Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to take over one year later. While waiting for Ancelotti, Brazil retained Fernando Diniz as their coach.
Diniz was fired in January 2024 after six matches on the job after Ancelotti extended his contract in Spain.
PSG ‘feel like champions’ as Ligue 1 title nears, says Luis Enrique
- “We’re never champions until it’s mathematically certain, but we can feel like champions,” Luis Enrique told reporters
- “We’re going to use these last eight matches for other goals, to be competitive against all opponents”
POISSY, France: Coach Luis Enrique said Paris Saint-Germain “can feel like champions” knowing they could seal the Ligue 1 title this weekend but warned his players not to let their level drop.
The unbeaten league leaders go to second-bottom Saint-Etienne, where a win would secure an 11th French title in 13 seasons if Marseille lose away to Reims and Monaco draw with Nice on Saturday.
“We’re never champions until it’s mathematically certain, but we can feel like champions, we’re the best team in Ligue 1,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Friday.
“We’re going to use these last eight matches for other goals, to be competitive against all opponents... to be ready for the three months that remain.
“There’s the French Cup and the Champions League, where we want to be right to the end.”
PSG face second-tier Dunkerque in the semifinals of the French Cup in Lille next week before taking on Aston Villa in the last eight of the Champions League.
Luis Enrique doesn’t believe the possibility of wrapping up a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title on Saturday should have any effect on his team’s mindset.
“It seems totally unimportant to me, there are eight games left in the league, we want to be competitive because that will prepare us in the best way for the other competitions,” said the Spaniard.
“I feel almost the same as I did this time last year, we were almost champions, in the semifinals of the cup and quarter-finals of the Champions League, with young players who have a year’s more experience.”
PSG will be without Lee Kang-in against Saint-Etienne after the South Korean picked up an ankle injury on international duty. Achraf Hakimi is also being rested after playing for Morocco in World Cup qualifying.
‘We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola
- Guardiola believes City have underachieved so badly that they will not deserve a bonus
- “If we win, I don’t know how much but it is for the club,” Guardiola said
LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he and his players do not deserve a bonus even if they salvage their dismal season by winning the Club World Cup.
Guardiola’s side are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League and crashed out of the Champions League and League Cup.
English champions for the previous four seasons, City could finish without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s maiden season in charge in 2016/17.
Their last hope of landing domestic silverware lies in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final tie at Bournemouth looming on Sunday.
But even if they win the FA Cup or the Club World Cup in June and July, Guardiola believes City have underachieved so badly that they will not deserve a bonus from the big prize pot on offer at the post-season tournament in the United States.
FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, confirmed this week that the Club World Cup winners will earn up to $125 million in prize money, with a total pot of $1 billion going to the 32 participating clubs.
“We don’t deserve it this season. We don’t deserve a bonus this season. If we win, I don’t know how much but it is for the club,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“The manager, the players, the backroom staff, we don’t deserve. Not even a watch.”
Local favorite Mansour ‘Tarzan’ Barnaoui to face American Archie Colgan at PFL Europe in Paris
- Belgian sensation Patrick 'The Belgian Bomber' Habirora fights compatriot Nicolas Di Franco in a lightweight encounter
- Taylor Lapilus scheduled to make PFL debut at the Accor Arena
LONDON: The Professional Fighters League has announced that Paris’s own Mansour “Tarzan” Barnaoui (22-6) will face the undefeated Archie “King” Colgan (11-0) in a clash of the top lightweight contenders looking to stake their claim for title opportunities.
Barnaoui’s record includes 15 submissions and six KO/TKOs, meaning he has finished all but one of his professional wins inside the distance. “Tarzan” has also never been stopped, and will enter the SmartCage on May 24 with full confidence to pick up the victory for his Parisian fans in attendance.
Colgan is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 wrestler who has not yet been beaten in MMA, establishing himself as one of the most dominant lightweights in the world. Having trained with legendary fighters Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman, “King” has all the tools to spoil the Paris homecoming.
Also on the card is a domestic Belgian clash between the undefeated Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora (6-0) and Nicolas Di Franco (10-4-1) at lightweight.
Habirora’s flawless professional record and experienced amateur career has created a huge fanbase in his past two PFL outings, making his third fight a hugely anticipated affair. Di Franco is making his PFL debut two weeks after his brother Sebastien, who will compete in the PFL Europe Lightweight Tournament at PFL Europe Belfast on May 10, with the brothers out to make their mark on the promotion in 2025.
Also on the card is new PFL signing Taylor “Double Impact” Lapilus (21-4), who will make his debut in Paris, with his opponent yet to be announced.
“I have a huge opportunity at the Accor Arena on May 24 to make a statement and finish an undefeated fighter,” Barnaoui said. “I expect a tough fight from Colgan, who is an excellent opponent, but when the referee lifts my hand, the PFL will realise they have a true lightweight title contender on their hands, and I have ambitions of becoming the champion. The French crowd will bring the energy like they always do, and I will bring the fight like I always do.”
Colgan said: “Paris, I’m back and ready to show everyone why I am one of the best lightweights in the world. The French fans always bring a great atmosphere so I’m ready to put on a show at the Accor Arena and show why I am in this conversation for the title shot. We will see you Saturday May 24th inside the SmartCage.”
PFL CEO Peter Murray said: “Paris holds a special place in PFL’s heart. The French fans have made their case to be amongst the best in the world, and they tear the roof off the Accor Arena every time we bring the SmartCage, so it was a must-visit for us.
“Barnaoui hunts for the finish no matter his opponent, but Archie Colgan has never been stopped,” he added. “French fans are about to find out what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, and I know it’s going to build on the history of French MMA.
“We also know what happens when we bring Patrick Habirora to France, so the energy is going to be off the charts. He faces a tough challenge against his Belgian compatriot, so let’s see if his star continues to rise or if Nicolas Di Franco can steal the hype and make a name for himself.”
