Australia players criticise Qatar's human rights record ahead of World Cup
Australia football players have criticised Qatar for its poor human rights record, ahead of the World Cup.
16 Australian football players and Professional Footballers along with Australia president Alex Wilkinson, appear in a video in which they criticise Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and the LGBTQ+ community.
Reportedly around 6,500 migrant workers have died in the country in the 10 years following Qatar’s successful bid to host the tournament in 2010.
"These migrant workers who have suffered are not just numbers, like the migrants that have shaped our country and our football,"
the players said.
"They possess the same courage and determination to build a better life. Addressing these issues is not easy. And we do not have all the answers.
"We stand with FIFPRO, the Building and Wood Workers International and the International Trade Union Confederation, seeking to embed reforms and establish a lasting legacy in Qatar.
"This must include establishing a migrant resource centre, effective remedy for those who have been denied their rights, and the decriminalisation of all same-sex relationships.
"These are the basic rights that should be afforded to all and will ensure continued progress in Qatar. This is how we can ensure a legacy that goes well beyond the final whistle of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
The World Cup will run from November 20 through December 18 in Qatar. Australia starts its tournament against France on November 22.
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