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Qatar Caught Sportswashing In Real Time
The 2022 World Cup has given us some incredible sporting moments on the pitch but its’ prevailing legacy will be in how FIFA, and Qatar, have failed in their attempts to distance the larger political implications from the action on the field.
Today, FIFA confirmed the death of a migrant worker at the ‘Sealine Beach Resort’, the resort used by Saudi Arabia during the group stages at the World Cup in Qatar.
Qatar 2022 World Cup chief executive Nasser Al Khater told a Reuters reporter that “death is a natural part of life” in response to a question about the latest migrant worker death, but he did not address the circumstances around this incident.
“We’re in the middle of a World Cup. And we have a successful World Cup. And this is something you want to talk about right now?” Al Khater said in a report filed with the BBC. *Embedded Below*
This statement from Al Khater is just another instance of Qatar trying to downplay human rights’ breeches during the World Cup. From banning rainbow flags and apparel in stadiums, to helping Iran officials spot protesters in the crowd during USA Iran last week, this is just another opportunity for Qatar to show how little they regard human life.
