The controversial 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been plagued by a bribery scandal, criticism over the scorching heat and the horrific treatment of the migrant workers building the glitzy venues.
Now, activists are pressuring corporate sponsors like McDonald’s, Visa, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Budweiser, Gazprom, Kia and Hyundai to push for changes to the work and living conditions of 1.5 million South Asian labourers.According to some estimates, over 1,000 migrant workers have already died in the Gulf nation.
In 2010, soccer’s governing body, FIFA, selected Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup. This year, FIFA moved the tournament to November and December to avoid the most intense desert heat, and bribery allegations, denied by Qatar, have dogged the selection committee.
Stories are emerging about the squalid living conditions, injuries and even deaths endured by the workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Organizations like Amnesty International are pressuring sponsors to demand improved human rights protections.
Here are some mock ads of the so called ‘proud’ sponsors of the World Cup 2022 which honestly describe the real ‘pride’ of them.
Watch a news report on the terrible working and living conditions of the migrant workers below:
(Courtesy: CBC News)
