BERNE: The international players’ union has called on 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar to respect workers’ rights following a report in the Guardian newspaper that dozens of migrant Nepalese workers have died in recent weeks in the Gulf state.
FIFPro, which represents around 50,000 professional footballers worldwide through its national affiliates, said that independent experts must be allowed to inspect worksites and ensure international labor standards are adhered to.
“Qatar must respect the rights of the key people who will deliver the 2022 World Cup: the workers who build the World Cup stadia and infrastructure and the professional footballers who play in them,” FIFPro said in a statement on Friday.
“FIFPro...calls on the international football community to act with solidarity to ensure that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is only delivered in accordance with football’s universal values as set out in the statutes of (soccer’s governing body) FIFA.” It added: “FIFPro is deeply alarmed by reports of the brutal exploitation of migrant workers by construction companies in Qatar who are involved in building the stadia that FIFPro members will be expected to play in.” The Guardian report, published on Wednesday, said thousands of Nepalese workers were enduring labor abuses as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 World Cup.
The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said in a statement it had been informed that government authorities were investigating the allegations.
“The 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar to promote football and, more importantly, football’s universal values in the Middle East,” said Brendan Schwab, head of FIFPro’s Asian division.
“This can only be achieved if Qatar respects the rights of the key people who will deliver that World Cup: the workers who build the World Cup stadia and the players who play in them.” “If these reports are true, then football must act,” Schwab added. “It is inexcusable for workers’ lives to be sacrificed, especially given modern health and safety practices in the construction industry.
“FIFPro assumes that adherence to FIFA’s principles and international labor standards are conditions on which Qatar was awarded the extraordinary privilege of hosting football’s greatest event.
“FIFA has previously acted to ensure international labor standards are respected when it worked with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the fight against child labor in the manufacture of footballs. A similar initiative is urgently needed in Qatar.
“Further, independent workplace health and safety experts appointed by FIFA and the ILO must be permitted to inspect all worksites and make binding recommendations to ensure international labor standards are respected in Qatar.” FIFA’s executive committee will discuss the Qatar situation when it meets in Zurich next week.
The committee is also expected to approve in principle that the tournament be staged away from the summer months of June and July.
Players’ union ‘deeply alarmed’ by Qatar labor allegations
Players’ union ‘deeply alarmed’ by Qatar labor allegations
Danube Group launches UAE’s first cricket-focused digital media platform
- Move marks a new front for one of the UAE’s most diversified conglomerates
- Anis Sajan: Mr. Cricket UAE Media Group is not just a business expansion it is the culmination of my lifelong passion for cricket
DUBAI: Danube Group has entered the digital sports media sector with the launch of Mr. Cricket UAE Media Group, the country’s first cricket-focused digital media platform, under the leadership of its vice chairman, Anis Sajan.
The move marks a new front for one of the UAE’s most diversified conglomerates, expanding its footprint beyond real estate, retail, building materials and hospitality into the fast-growing digital sports media landscape. The platform reflects Danube Group’s strategy of diversification and its focus on consumer-driven, high-growth sectors.
The launch event in Dubai was attended by several international cricket stars, including Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, JP Duminy, Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Khurram Khan, alongside figures from across the regional sports community.
Speaking at the launch, Sajan said: “Today, Danube Group takes a major leap into a brand-new segment. Mr. Cricket UAE Media Group is not just a business expansion it is the culmination of my lifelong passion for cricket. As the UAE becomes a global hub for the sport, this platform will bring world-class cricket content, storytelling, and exclusive access to fans worldwide.”
Headquartered in Dubai, Mr. Cricket UAE Media Group becomes the first digital media house in the UAE dedicated exclusively to cricket. The platform will initially focus on cricket content, drawing on the UAE’s strong connection to the sport and Sajan’s global network, before expanding into coverage of other major sports as part of a long-term plan to evolve into a multi-sport digital platform.
The platform will offer a wide range of content, including live and real-time cricket coverage, exclusive interviews with international players, premium digital video productions, studio shows, social-first short-form content, documentary-style storytelling rooted in cricket culture, and behind-the-scenes access across global leagues.
The launch comes as the UAE continues to strengthen its position in the global cricket landscape, having hosted major tournaments such as the T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, ILT20, T10 competitions and numerous international fixtures.
“The UAE has truly become a home away from home for people of many nationalities like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, united by their love of cricket, alongside expatriates from England, Australia, South Africa, and beyond who are also cricket lovers,” Sajan added. “Hence, launching a world-class sports media platform here is a step toward cementing the nation’s role not just in hosting the sport, but in shaping how it is consumed by these audiences.”
Danube Group said the move aligns with its long-term vision of innovation, diversification and community engagement, with digital sports media forming a new vertical that combines technology, entertainment and culture.
Sajan underlined the personal significance of the project, saying: “Cricket has always been a passion for me for the last 45 years, will continue to be my passion, and will never be treated as a business.”
