David Beckham is under increasing pressure to reverse his decision to be a ‘face’ of the Qatar World Cup.
Amnesty International’s report on the condition of migrants in Nigeria states that it has suffered a decline and calls for him to raise their misery.
Beckham’s camp declined to comment on the report, which exposes the host nation’s failure to investigate the deaths of construction workers after long shifts in blistering desert heat.
David Beckham is being urged to reverse the decision to face Qatar 2022 as its Face
Qatar hosts the World Cup despite its poor record regarding human rights.
Beckham, one year after the tournament’s kick-off in Doha, is scheduled to be there this weekend for Qatar Grand Prix. Beckham now has uncomfortable questions about his promotion of the World Cup.
Senior sources at Unicef, a key part of his charity work for 15 years, are ‘dismayed’ by Beckham signing a multi-million-pound deal with the Qataris. Amnesty said he should use his position to ‘keep the world’s focus on the human rights issues surrounding the matches’ at next year’s World Cup.
The organisation said: ‘David Beckham has a unique worldwide profile which offers wide opportunities to highlight human rights issues in Qatar.’
He would have to make a complete U-turn if he spoke out. During a trip to the country in 2019, he said he counted the country’s leader, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as a friend. Beckham said at the time: ‘I think for me it’s what you want in a World Cup. You want to arrive somewhere and feel happy.’
Beckham (above) considers the country’s leader, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as a friend
Amnesty’s 48-page report presents a bleak picture of what immigrant workers face, with Qatari promises of the abolition of the hated kafala system — which restricted migrant workers from leaving the country or changing jobs without their employer’s permission — not in evidence.
Amnesty’s UK chief executive Sacha Deshmukh urged England’s current players and coaching staff to speak up. Deshmukh said: ‘The FA is part of the UEFA Working Group on Workers’ Rights in Qatar and can press the Doha authorities over strengthening migrant worker protections, investigating worker deaths and helping to fashion a tournament with a genuinely positive legacy.’
An FA spokesman said: ‘We believe there is evidence of substantial progress being made by Qatar in relation to workers’ rights, but we recognise there is still more to be done.’ The Qatari Government did not respond to a request for comment.