Cammy Devlin has joined his Australia teammates in a video calling out the need for workers rights and those of the LGBTI+ community in Qatar to be respected.
The Hearts star is hoping to be selected in the Socceroos squad that jets out to the Middle East for the 2022 FIFA World Cup next month. But in a video made in conjunction with the Professional Footballers Australia, the union for pro players Down Under, Graham Arnold’s squad have called out the issues surrounding the nation’s hosting of the tournament.
It had been reported that by February 2021, 6500 migrant workers had died whilst helping build the stadiums in which matches will be played. Countless others have had wages and passports withheld and been forced to live in squalid conditions after paying large recruitment fees. Qatari companies have also been accused by Amnesty of using forced labour under the ‘kafala’ system, which sponsored foreign workers to travel to Qatar for work, but prevented them leaving their jobs.
That has since been abolished. But controversy still surrounds the decision to stage the tournament in a country where there remains so much concern over human rights. Same-sex relationships remain illegal there. And the Australian players, including former Hibs striker Jamie Maclaren, have released a video acknowledging the issues and called on further improvements to be made. They are the first qualifying nation to do so in such a way en masse.
In a lengthy video featuring Devlin and several other Aussie stars, the key message was: “There are universal values which should define football. Values such as respect, dignity, trust and courage. When we represent our nation, we aspire to embody these values.
“As PFA members, we understand the value of collective bargaining and the fundamental rights of all workers to form and join a union. Before players had won these rights, their careers in Australia were characterised by the absence of respect and dignity. It is for these reasons that we must speak about the situation in Qatar. Over the last two years, we have been on a journey to understand and learn more about the situation in Qatar.
“We are not experts, but we have listened to groups such as Amnesty, FIFA, the Supreme Committee, the International Labour Organisation FIFpro and most importantly, the migrant workers of Qatar. We have learned that progress has been made, both in practice and on paper. The kafala system has mostly been dismantled, working conditions have improved and a minimum wage has been established. Whilst the reforms are an important and welcome step, their implementation remains inconsistent and must be improved.
“We have learnt the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has resulted in the suffering and harm of countless numbers of our fellow workers. These migrant workers who have suffered aren’t just numbers. Like the migrants that have shaped our country and our football, they possess the same courage and determination to build a better life. As players, we fully support the rights of the LGBTI+ people. But in Qatar, people are not free to love the person that they choose.
“Addressing these issues is not easy and we do not have all the answers. We stand with FIFpro, the Building and Woodworkers International and the International Trade Union Confederation seeking to embed reforms and establish a lasting legacy in Qatar. This must include establishing a migrant resource centre, an effective remedy for those who have been denied their rights and the de-criminalisation of all same-sex relationships. There are the basic rights that should be afforded to all, and will ensure continued progress in Qatar."
READ NEXT:
