Swiss court rejects lawsuit against FIFA over Qatar World Cup

A commercial court in Zurich has rejected a lawsuit against FIFA that accused the body of failing to project migrant workers in Qatar. The legal action was filed against FIFA last month by Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV) on behalf of a Bangladeshi construction worker employed on a 2022 World Cup project.
The lawsuit called on FIFA to force Qatar to adopt “minimum labour standards” for migrant workers.

“FIFA takes the issue of working conditions and human rights in connection with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar very seriously. FIFA monitors the situation very closely and, as recently stated by President Infantino, will continue to urge the Qatari authorities to ensure safe and decent working conditions for construction workers,” the federation’s statement said.

The football organization also pointed out new developments in terms of labor rights in Qatar over the past few years.

These include the establishment of worker welfare standards, an independent auditing system and plans to allow a global trade union to inspect worker accommodation this year. The court would not immediately comment on the ruling, Reuters said.

For its part, FNV expressed disappointment in the ruling. “We regret this decision very much, because it leaves migrant workers out in the cold,” it said in a statement.