The FFF counterattacks.
Taken to task by Amnesty International, which in its recent "letter to the Blues" announced that it would support Denmark in the face of the "deafening silence of [the French team] in the face of the thousands of migrant workers who died on Qatari construction sites and thousands more subjected to forced labour,” the French football federation responded.
“Amnesty International is an admirable organization which we respect.
It is of course free to support Denmark and not France, writes the Federation in a press release.
The FFF nevertheless deplores this stigmatization campaign.
The FFF and the France team are free to express themselves or not.
They did not wait for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar to defend human rights on a daily basis, on the ground, and at their level, as well as other essential causes.
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The FFF prefers to highlight "social progress" in Qatar
Amnesty, on the other hand, salutes "the Danish team, the big favorite to win the commitment challenge".
The Danes will wear training kits with human rights messages at the World Cup in Qatar.
As for the Danish federation, it had called for an independent investigation into the fate of immigrant workers in the emirate.
On the side of the FFF, the story is not quite the same.
“Specifically concerning the World Cup in Qatar, the position of the FFF is very clear: participating does not mean turning a blind eye and endorsing.
The organization of this World Cup has however enabled social progress in Qatar that even certain NGOs recognize, including Amnesty International.
Even if the reality on the ground is not perfect, this progress is undeniable and positive.
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Not an image campaign
And the fed to conclude.
“The FFF is - and will remain - very vigilant regarding respect for human rights in Qatar.
She only made the choice to act firmly but calmly and respectfully on the ground rather than making an image campaign of it.
It has thus implemented various verification measures concerning the respect of social rights and the application of respectful working conditions at the base camp of the France team.
The FFF also takes an active and committed part in a certain number of projects alongside other federations which relate, for example, to the possibility of creating a reception center for immigrant workers and the creation of a compensation.
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