Amnesty urges Fifa to act over alleged abuse of security workers in Qatar

Human rights campaigners have called on Fifa to prevent the “systematic and structural” abuse of private security workers in Qatar ahead of the men’s World Cup finals, which begin in November.

Amnesty International’s 74-page report into the welfare of those employed in the notoriously perilous sector, titled They Think That We’re Machines, alleges abusive practices including overworking, lack of rest days, punitive fines and racial discrimination, which the organisation claims amount to forced labour.

Stephen Cockburn, Amnesty International’s head of economic and social justice, said: “With the World Cup just months away, Fifa must focus on doing more to prevent abuses in the inherently perilous private security sector, or see the tournament further marred by abuse.”

“More broadly, Fifa must also use its leverage to pressure Qatar to better implement its reforms and enforce its laws,” Cockburn continued. “Time is fast running out – if better practices are not established now, abuses will continue long after fans have gone home.”

The study interviewed 34 migrant workers employed by eight different private security companies providing services for sites including government ministries and football stadiums, as well as other infrastructure projects essential for the World Cup, such as hotels, transport systems and sports facilities between April 2021 and February 2022. At least three of the companies provided security for recent Fifa tournaments, among them the Club World Cup and the Arab Cup.

In an offical statement, Fifa said it “does not accept any abuse of workers by companies involved in the preparation and delivery of the World Cup”.

It added: “Following inspections during the Club World Cup and Arab Cup, contractors