The Controversial Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup
The Controversial Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup
  • Reporter Lee Seung-ah
  • 승인 2022.12.10 01:28
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▲Qatar 2022 mascot La’eeb / FIFA
▲Qatar 2022 mascot La’eeb / FIFA

 With the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 20, 2022, football teams from 32 countries have converged on Qatar, an Arab country. As an oil-rich country, Qatar has enjoyed immense wealth that has nurtured grand ambitions of economic growth. However, the Qatar World Cup has some issues: treatment of migrant workers, human rights abuses, and alcohol-related regulations. Questions were raised when Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup won out over rival bids such as South Korea, Japan, and the U.S.
 Qatar has suffered from its treatment of migrant workers. About 30,000 workers came from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and the Philippines to construct the stadiums which will be used for the Qatar World Cup. According to the Qatari government, 37 migrants working directly on World Cup stadiums have died. However, only three workers have died during construction, with the rest classified as “nonwork-related.” Moreover, Amnesty International, a global non-government organization focusing on human rights, had reported thousands of migrant worker deaths in Qatar since 2010, the year that the 2022 World Cup was awarded to Qatar. According to Amnesty International, migrant workers constructing World Cup stadiums in Qatar should be paid fees between 500 USD and 4,300 USD. However, workers were lied to about their salaries, and many have been waiting for months for their payments.
 Not only the treatment of migrant workers but also the treatment of women and LGBTQ+ is an issue. A 2021 report from Human Rights Watch revealed that Qatari laws impose "discriminatory" male guardianship rules—denying women the right to make decisions about their lives. Women must show a marriage certificate to access some forms of reproductive health care and lack access to emergency contraception. Such Qatari practices were of concern when Qatar was determined to host the 2022 World Cup. However, Qatar’s organizing committee has said that, “The country protects and promotes the rights of women, and this extends to all women visiting for the World Cup.” For LGBTQ+ rights, Qatar’s senior security official has said that, “Gay couples would be welcomed and accepted in Qatar for the World Cup. However, we cannot change the laws. You cannot change the religion for 28 days of the World Cup.”
 As a Muslim country, Qatar also has strict rules around alcohol. It bans its residents from drinking alcohol in public. When violated, it can result in a prison sentence of up to six months. Previously, Qatar said it would allow beer sales in stadiums during the 2022 World Cup. Budweiser spent 75 million USD to become the official beer sponsor of the World Cup. However, just two days before kickoff, Qatar announced it would not allow the beer to be sold at stadiums during the tournament. Budweiser tweeted, “Well, this is awkward…,” and announced that it would sell its nonalcoholic Bud Zero at the World Cup stadiums. However, it still allowed beer sales in VIP rooms—areas most football fans cannot access. Meanwhile, Qatar allowed some fans to drink beer in the evenings at the FIFA Fan Festival, a designated site.
 The 2022 FIFA World Cup is controversial due to various issues. There is the perspective that fans should respect Qatar’s religion and practices and counter perspectives claiming that the regulations are not proper for the World Cup, which is a global festival.