World Cup human rights issues in Danes' sights

COPENHAGEN • Denmark's football team are instituting a series of measures to shine a spotlight on human rights issues in Qatar after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup to be held in the Gulf kingdom, its football association (DBU) said.

The Danes sealed automatic qualification last month after topping their group with nine wins and played their last qualifier on Monday, losing 2-0 to Scotland.

Having reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020, Denmark will be hoping for a similar run at Qatar next year.

However, the team's attention will not solely be focused on on-pitch matters.

The DBU has said its two training kit sponsors will make way for messages critical of Qatar, while they will also minimise the number of trips to the country to avoid commercial activities that promote the World Cup hosts' events.

"DBU has long been strongly critical of the World Cup in Qatar," its chief executive officer Jakob Jensen said in a statement.

"But now we are further intensifying our efforts and critical dialogue so that we take advantage of the fact that we have qualified to work for more change in the country.

"In addition, we have long drawn attention to the challenges facing (world football governing body) Fifa and Qatar, and we will continue to do so."

Earlier this week, Amnesty International published a 48-page report that said thousands of migrant workers in Qatar were being trapped and exploited, with many facing "wage theft".

The government of Qatar has denied the accusations but acknowledged that its labour system was still a "work in progress".

In August, the Guardian reported Qatar's World Cup organising committee as recording 38 worker deaths on construction projects, of which 35 have been classified as "non-work-related".

But Amnesty said nearly half of those deaths have yet to be properly investigated or explained.

The human rights group also wants the Qatari authorities to put in place better protections for workers as it believes the intense heat and humidity exposure is another significant factor.

Jensen added he was pleased to see their commercial partners give up space on the training kits for messages to improve conditions for the migrant workers in the country.

"It's a very strong signal when our partners also engage in the fight for better conditions in Qatar," he added. "The partners support Danish football, the men's national team and the sporting participation in the European Championships and the World Cup - not the individual host."

REUTERS