To most football fans, the Club World Cup is meaningless.
European clubs have far larger budgets than their Asian, African or South American counterparts, creating a competition that is expected, if Bayern Munich wins the Mexican Tigres outfit on Thursday, the European representative will won in 13 of the last 14 competitions.
For Gianni Infantino, however, it is nothing but meaningless. The FIFA president has confirmed that the tournament will be extended to 24 teams from 2022 and held in China, voting to make it “the best club competition in the world” – a direct challenge to UEFA Champions League.
Even a global pandemic cannot stop it. When asked if this edition of the competition in Qatar should go ahead at a time when much of the world is locked in because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Infantino immediately reaffirmed : “Of course we don’t take any risks to anyone’s health when we play football. “
There are some in Qatar who would not agree.
Immigrant workers in Qatar have been given their passports and thousands have died while building the World Cup stadium.
Qatar’s horrific atrocities are going on
Thousands of migrant workers from Nepal, India, Bangladesh and other Asian and African countries were hired to build the stadium and infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup, the rights won by the Middle East state in controversial situations in 2010.
They live and work in squalid conditions and perform dangerous, labor-intensive duties in the extreme heat of the desert, leading to horrific numbers of deaths, many of which are still officially unexplained.
“Qatar has not released any statistics on the number of dead workers since 2012,” Nicholas McGeehan, director of London-based Fair Square Projects group, tells DW. “The real problem isn’t just the number of dead workers, which is high anyway, but the rate of unexplained deaths, which is about 75% of the dead.
Qatari death certificates usually list the cause of death as “natural causes” or “heart attacks” that are not causes of death. And if there is an unexplained death, there is no compensation or answers for the families, plus or autopsy or any examination. They don’t drop the stats because they know what the stats say. “
Bayern have held their training camps in Qatar since 2011 and have several sponsorship deals with the state full of oil
Despite the conditions for workers in Qatar, which have been consistently described as “inhumane” by Human Rights Watch, FIFA rarely reports on the matter. In 2016, however, a football governing body said they are not responsible for “wider social problems” in a host country and that the competition could be a “catalyst for change” in Qatar.
The only positive change seen in a decade was the decision in August 2020 to abolish the ‘kafala’ sponsorship system under which employees had to surrender their passports, preventing them from changing jobs or leaving the country without the permission of their employer.
There was also an increase in the minimum wage, but critics say the changes are not going far enough with many workers still working for as little as € 1 / hour, if paid Between. The reforms have come too late for many who have already died.
Money talks for Bayern in Qatar
But it is not as if money is short in Qatar. The oil-rich state has one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world and is classified by the United Nations as a country of “very high” human development.
The state of Qatari has used its vast financial power to buy into European and global football on a large scale – a process often described as “sportsmanship,” an attempt to dispel a country’s image. and distract from negative issues.
In 2011, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), a subsidiary of Qatar’s sovereign assets, gained majority control over French side Paris Saint-Germain, but Qatar also has established links with Bayern Munich, for which commercial contracts make up more than 50% of income.
German giants have held annual winter training camps in Qatar since 2011 (except 2020 due to the coronavirus) and have had support agreements with state airline Qatar Airways since 2017. The state of Qatari is also holds a 14.6% stake in Volkswagen, a subsidiary of Audi, which owns 8.33% in Bayern Munich.
The silence of Bayern speaks books
When questioned about their cozying up to Qatar, Bayern have been disappointed.
On 5 February 2020, Fair Square Projects director McGeehan co-wrote a letter to CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge urging Bayern to speak out about workers’ rights in Qatar – how the English champions Liverpool ahead of their appearance there the 2019 Club World Cup The letter went unnoticed despite repeated requests for comment.
“We wrote to Bayern again about this issue but they did not respond to our letter, which did not ask Bayern to boycott Qatar or end the trade relationship, but only to use the lever positively,” McGeehan tells DW.
“Bayern were advised of the steps they should take before entering into relations with a country like Qatar and were also in talks with the German government about it. When human rights abuses were revealed. at sites in Qatar that link Bayern through sponsorship deals, they did nothing.
“The key for any company that wants to engage with a non-negotiable government is at least to make very clear what you intend to happen. However, they have fallen back on PR lines at which there is no content, “McGeehan adds.
Fans gagged
Bayern Munich themselves may have been quiet but have no sections of the fanbase.
Game fans have been vocal on the issue and one fan has been banned from attending Bayern games – even though Bayern’s official reason was to give an “unauthorized position” flag against Monday’s games at a reserve team game.
The attorney’s attorney appealing the ban made the following statement to DW: “My client is involved in the criticism of Bayern Munich ‘s treatment of Qatar. only he was allowed [Bayern] wanting to simulate an emergency fan. ”
“Exceptional training situation”: Bayern fan groups have protested against their club ‘s relationship with Qatar.
But as Bayern prepare for Thursday ‘s Club World Cup final, the complaints from both fans and human rights groups seem to be heeded. DW has also spoken to Bayern for comments but has not yet received a response.
“I don’t think Bayern will change their mind about the Qatar deal, but I think there could be changes in the future,” said Alex Fischer, a spokesman for the Bayern Club Nr. 12.
“I would like to think that they will be less protective and listen to the advice of organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and think again before entering into these relationships in the future. “