The head of Qatar’s World Cup committee, Hassan al-Zauadi, has admitted that between 400 and 500 migrant workers have been killed in projects directly or indirectly linked to the ongoing sporting event, the highest figure so far acknowledged by Qatari authorities.
A recent report by the British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ estimated the number of deaths at 6,500 in a country repeatedly criticized for the lack of rights of foreign workers, most of them victims of a system, the ‘kafala’, which keeps them tied to their employer.
On the occasion of the start of the World Cup, the Qatari authorities have questioned the veracity of this figure. Al Zauadi told journalist Piers Morgan on Talk TV that although «the exact number» is not yet known, the provisional range is around half a thousand.
However, he emphasized that, within this total, only 40 deaths would correspond to projects to build new stadiums. Three of the deaths were direct occupational accidents and the remaining 37 were migrants who were involved in construction but did not die on the job, according to the official version.
Al Zauadi, the most visible figure of the organization and also linked to European soccer, admitted that «there had to be improvements» in the labor field and progress is being made in this regard. In fact, he argued that this improvement derives largely from the World Cup, which has now put Qatar in the world spotlight.
«We are committed to transparency,» said the official, who believes that the event may have been a catalyst for progress in the first Arab country to host a World Cup.
