Following the death of a migrant worker at a World Cup site in Qatar, Fifa expresses its “deep sadness.”
The Filipino national died after collapsing while performing maintenance at a resort that served as the Saudi Arabian team’s center of operations, according to The Athletic.
The employee was “not working within its remit,” according to the tournament’s supreme committee, and the incident happened “on land not under its jurisdiction.”
The Qatari authorities are currently looking into the situation.
Fifa reported receiving information about an accident and contacting the local authorities to get more information.
“Fifa is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and sympathies are with the worker’s family,” said football’s world governing body.
“Fifa will be in a position to comment further once the relevant processes in relation to the worker’s passing have been completed.”
Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers has been one of the main controversies overshadowing the build-up to the World Cup.
A statement on behalf of the supreme committee read: “Due to the incident referred to having taken place on property not under the jurisdiction of the SC, and the deceased working as a contractor not under the remit of the SC, this matter is being handled by the relevant government authorities.
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“The SC is following up with the same relevant authorities to ensure we are updated with developments pertaining to the investigation on a regular basis and has established contact with the family of the deceased to ensure relevant information is conveyed.”
A report by the Guardian newspaper last year said 6,500 migrant workers had died in Qatar since the country was awarded the World Cup in 2010.
That figure has been denied by the Qatari authorities, who say there have been three work-related deaths in construction related directly to the tournament, and a further 37 non work-related deaths.
World Cup officials say a number of reforms to improve the health and safety standards for migrant workers have been implemented in recent years, and that they are “committed” to making more improvements as a legacy of the tournament.
Human rights organisations and a number of football associations whose countries are involved in the tournament say they will “continue to press” Qatar and Fifa to establish a compensation fund for migrant workers and their families, as well as the establishment of a migrant worker centre in Doha.
Source: BBC
