Less than ten days to go before kick-off, World Cup host Qatar and Zurich-based FIFA continue to face intense criticism from human rights groups and observers over the Gulf state’s treatment of migrant workers and its human rights record.
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Anistia Internacional insta FIFA a compensar os trabalhadores migrantes da Copa do Mundo
On Friday, Amnesty International again urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to pay financial compensation to migrant workers who built the World Cup stadiums in Qatar.
In an opinion piece published in the French daily Le Monde, Amnesty and 24 other NGOs called on football’s world governing body to remedy the “abuses” they say workers from the Indian sub-continent and Africa have suffered.
“In the midst of this growing clamour, the most crucial voice of all has remained conspicuously silent: that of Gianni Infantino,” lamented Amnesty International secretary general Agnès Callamard.
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‘Project Merciless’: how Qatar spied on the world of football in Switzerland
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Qatar orchestrated a major intelligence operation against FIFA officials helped by ex-CIA agents. Switzerland was a key theatre of operations.
The FIFA president recently angered human rights groups by telling the 32 nations participating in the tournament, taking place from November 20-December 18, to “focus on football”. The Swiss also urged the teams to stop “giving moral lessons”.
Last year, Qatar’s government denied claims in a report by human rights organisation Amnesty International that thousands of migrant workers were being trapped and exploited. FIFA has said that “regular independent inspections” have been carried out on Qatari construction sites by the Building and Woodworkers International Union (BWI).
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino moves to Qatar
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Gianni Infantino has decided to rent a house in the Gulf state that is hosting the 2022 World Cup.
In a separate interview on Friday in CH Media newspapers, Lucerne ethics professor Peter G. Kirchschläger called for a spectator boycott of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“If you have understood that something is ethically wrong, you should adjust your own actions accordingly,” he told the CH Media group.
Kirchschläger also attacked Switzerland for not taking its responsibility for Zurich-based FIFA. The Swiss authorities do nothing against human rights violations abroad by corporations and organisations headquartered in Switzerland, said the ethics professor.
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‘Is Qatar ready for the whole world? I don’t think so’
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The football World Cup kicks off in Qatar in two weeks. A Swiss teacher gives us her insights into a challenging culture.
“Switzerland knows what FIFA is doing and should intervene accordingly,” said Kirchschläger.
Last week, Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said people calling for a boycott of the World Cup in Qatar were from a handful of countries that do not represent the rest of the world which is looking forward to the tournament.
“The reasons given for boycotting the World Cup do not add up. There is a lot of hypocrisy in these attacks, which ignore all that we have achieved,” Sheikh Mohammed told Le Monde.
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Ex-FIFA boss regrets choice of Qatar for World Cup
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The former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, says the choice of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup was a mistake as the Gulf country is too small.
Swiss climate activists block vehicles near Gotthard tunnel
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Around ten climate activists briefly blocked the A2 motorway near the northern entrance of the Gotthard tunnel on Thursday.
Watches belonging to Michael Schumacher up for auction
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Schumacher's family is auctioning off eight rare watches from his collection in Geneva. The Christie's auction will take place on Monday.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
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St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
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The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
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The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
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In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
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As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
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After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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‘Project Merciless’: how Qatar spied on the world of football in Switzerland
This content was published on
Qatar orchestrated a major intelligence operation against FIFA officials helped by ex-CIA agents. Switzerland was a key theatre of operations.
Ex-FIFA boss regrets choice of Qatar for World Cup
This content was published on
The former FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, says the choice of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup was a mistake as the Gulf country is too small.
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After being chosen as World Cup host, Qatar set its sights on Geneva as the place to roll out a massive PR campaign to boost its image.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.