2022 World Cup: FIFA holds meeting with Qatar over human rights concerns

FIFA President Gianni Infantino help a virtual meeting with the tournament's organising body and political representatives across Europe to discuss concerns over human rights in Qatar.

FIFA held a virtual meeting on Tuesday (December 14) with political institutions as well as rights organisations to discuss human rights in Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup, global soccer's governing body said in a statement.

The meeting included FIFA President Gianni Infantino and head of the tournament's organising body Hassan Al Thawadi as well as members of the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and political representatives from parliaments across Europe. There were also representatives from the EU Commission, the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the United Nations and UNESCO among others.

FIFA said the dialogue gave an opportunity for stakeholders to raise questions and concerns on a number of key topics, including workers welfare and LGBTQIA rights. "From day one, we have been committed to ensuring a legacy is delivered before the tournament and that this legacy lasts beyond the tournament too, specifically on labour reform but on other topics as well.", Al Thawadi said.