Infantino: Qatar W/Cup has given migrant workers pride

Gianni Infantino has said FIFA has helped to give migrant workers “dignity and pride” through Qatar World Cup infrastructure projects, despite widespread abuse allegations.

Qatar is hosting the World Cup later this year, with thousands of migrants employed on tournament-related projects such as stadium construction and security.

FIFA’s alleged role in enabling the exploitation of migrants has been routinely criticised by organisations such as Amnesty International, who recently detailed that some World Cup workers have been subject to “forced labour”.

But Infantino, who was elected FIFA president in 2016, has defended his organisation’s contributions in Qatar, whose hosting of the World Cup is controversial for reasons outlined in this article.

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“Let’s not forget one thing when we speak about this topic,” Infantino said at the Milken Institute.

“When you give work to somebody, even in hard conditions, you give him dignity and pride. It’s not charity, you don’t make charity.

“(But to build a stadium where the World Cup is to be played) is also a matter of pride. And to have been able to change the conditions for these 1.5 million people is something that makes us proud.”

Infantino also addressed a reported death of over 6,500 migrant workers since the country won the right to host the World Cup in 2010.