Since the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in 2010, 6,500 migrant workers have died on the many construction sites, reports the British newspaper The Guardian.

Football: according to The Guardian, 6,500 workers died on the 2022 World Cup construction sites

One of the stadiums under construction for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

- Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy / AFP / File

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

3 min

Since the award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in 2010, 6,500 migrant workers have died on the many construction sites, reports the British newspaper The Guardian.

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The figure is enough to challenge players in the world of football and FIFA in particular.

According to the British newspaper

The Guardian

, more than 6,500 workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar since this small Gulf state obtained the organization of the World Cup 2022, ten years ago.

Twelve workers died every week?

To determine the figure of twelve dead workers per week,

The Guardian

relies on statistics given from the governments of these countries, the main suppliers of

labor to Qatar.

And the total number of deaths would be underestimated because data from other countries, including the Philippines or Kenya, which have many nationals working in Qatar, has not been collected.

Since 2010, Qatar has embarked on a gigantic construction program with roads, airports, public transport, hotels and stadiums to host the 2022 World Cup.

The Guardian

considers "

probable

" that the majority of these deaths are linked to these sites. .

“

The death rate in these communities is within the range expected for the size and demographics of the population.
However, every loss of life is a tragedy, and no effort is spared to try to prevent every death in our country,

”said the government spokesperson in Qatar.

Only 37

workers

among the 6,500 are said to have died on the construction sites of the World Cup stadiums.

Of which 34 are not considered as work accidents by the local organizing committee.

Figures questioned by several experts.

“

There is a real lack of clarity and transparency around these deaths,

” Amnesty International said.

FIFA minimizes

FIFA responded by recalling "

the very strict health and safety measures

" put in place at the sites.

The body of world football also ensures that "

the frequency of accidents on the sites of the FIFA World Cup has been low compared to other major construction projects in the world

In Qatar, 69% of deaths of Indian, Nepalese or Bengali migrants are classified as natural by the authorities of the country.

A rate that climbs to 80% for Indians alone, for whom it is regularly reported "

acute cardiac or respiratory failure

In total, two million migrants have come to work in Qatar, on the various sites of the World Cup.

Since the award of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has been the subject of several controversies including suspicions of bribes regarding the award of the competition.

In January 2021, the anti-corruption association Anticor became a civil party in the investigation into the conditions for the award of the 2022 World Cup and the role that Frenchman Michel Platini could have played.

Football: according to The Guardian, 6,500 workers died on the 2022 World Cup construction sites

Football: according to The Guardian, 6,500 workers died on the 2022 World Cup construction sites

Twelve workers died every week?

FIFA minimizes

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