Fifa, not good enough

Day -804. WorldCup2018.

New Fifa, but same old Fifa. Below is a statement from Fifa today in response to the report by Amnesty International about the deplorable working conditions of the construction workers hired to build the Qatar 2002 facilities.

One would expect, with a new president and a new approach and all that, that there would at least be a little bit of a sense of outrage from Fifa, that people are being exploited while working on Fifa's showcase event. This is not just a little smoke: it's a never ending cloud of smoke, with which there must be a huge fire. The statement, if you bother to read it, is a terrible example of political nothingness.

"FIFA is fully aware of the risks facing construction workers in Qatar....". The risks? Fifa acknowledges that there are risks? Yes, construction can be a dangerous occupation but this is not what Fifa is referring to when they say "risks".

"We remain convinced that the unique attraction and visibility of the FIFA World Cup™ globally is a strong catalyst for significant change." Fifa, you are shooting yourself in each foot, multiple times. This is exactly the point. Make a change. Show the Qatari government that they cannot treat people like this. You are encouraging slave labour in order to have your World Cup in an Arab country.

The rest of the statement is all about, well, nothing. Nothing is going to be done because Fifa does, and will, "closely monitor developments and address issues through our regular contact with the Supreme Committee". Fifa is working with the Qatari government and other stakeholders to ensure that conditions are improved and expected standards adhered to. In other words they are going to believe what they are told by the Qataris and be happy with that.

It is time to take a stand, Fifa. You can be the "strong catalyst for significant change." If you don't then, maybe, it is time for the players to stand up to this; the players without whom the World Cup would not be what it is.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=3/news=fifa-statement-on-latest-amnesty-international-report-on-qatar-2773473.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news