"Dignity and pride": FIFA President Infantino draws scandalous comparison to workers in Qatar

Created: 05/05/2022, 15:25

By: Antonio Jose Riether

Six months before the start of the World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino made several controversial statements about migrant workers on the World Cup construction sites.

Beverly Hills - In November and December 2022, the World Cup will take place in Qatar.

In Europe in particular, voices against the tournament have increased in recent years. At a conference in the USA, FIFA President Gianni Infantino rejected the criticism and not only made a surprising statement.

The Swiss caused a stir, particularly with comments on the situation of migrant workers, who, according to consistent reports, died in their thousands on the World Cup construction sites.

World Cup 2022: Gianni Infantino compares himself to migrant workers in Qatar

At the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, mostly investors, CEOs, brokers and celebrities discuss current market trends.

Gianni Infantino, after all the head of the money printing machine FIFA, which recorded sales of around 766 million US dollars last year, was also interviewed in front of the audience.

On the subject of migrant workers, he caused a shake of the head with an absurd comparison.

He responded to the criticism of the conditions of the workers with a personal story and tried to point out positive aspects from his point of view.

“We must not forget one thing when we talk about this topic.

My parents emigrated to Switzerland from Italy.

When you give someone a job, even under tough conditions, you give them dignity and pride,” said the 52-year-old, who has now also moved to Qatar.

Gianni Infantino caused astonishment with his comparison.

© Yolanda Riuz/imago-images

World Cup 2022: FIFA boss Infantino clearly contradicts the number of deaths – "It's not 6000"

Since the construction of the World Cup stadiums began, tens of thousands of migrants have been brought to the sparsely populated country.

The workers, who mostly come from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan or other Asian and East African countries, are usually accommodated inhumanely and paid insufficiently.

Infantino further claimed that there had only been three deaths on the construction sites, reports speak of 6,000 to 15,000 migrants who died.

"It's not 6000," said the FIFA boss, it could be 6000 in other areas.

He also referred to the progress made in the country, such as the abolition of the kafala system or the introduction of a minimum wage in the emirate.

According to human rights organizations, these are still poorly implemented.

World Cup 2022: Gianni Infantino dodges uncomfortable question about migrant workers

Infantino tried to sell his Qatar World Cup product in the country of the 2026 co-host, but dodged uncomfortable questions, such as possible compensation for the families of deceased workers.

At the FIFA Congress in early April, the Norwegian association president Lise Klaveness, who also made a remarkable speech, campaigned for a corresponding aid fund for relatives.

The German team qualified as group winners for the 22nd World Cup and will play in Qatar at the end of March despite a meeting with human rights organizations.

The first game of Hansi Flick's team at the controversial major event will take place on November 23 in the preliminary round against Japan.