Doha: A Filipino migrant worker died while carrying out repairs at a training camp used by the Saudi national team, local media reported.
On Wednesday, online sports publication The Athletic reported that a Filipino man identified by the name Alex, was working for a company contracted to fix lights in a parking lot at Sealine Resort, the Saudi national team’s training site.
The worker rumoured to be in his early 40s, died after he slipped off a cliff while walking alongside a forklift and hit his head on concrete.
On Thursday, Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of the World Cup 2022 in Doha, confirmed to Reuters that a worker had died, but gave no further details. He offered his condolences to his family and said “death is a natural part of life”.
“FIFA is deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts and sympathies are with the worker’s family,” a spokesperson for the world football governing body was quoted by CNN in a statement.
“As soon as FIFA was made aware of the accident, we contacted the local authorities to request more details. FIFA will be in a position to comment further once the relevant processes in relation to the worker’s passing have been completed.”
The incident is under investigation by the Qatari authorities.
Qatar’s treatment of expatriate workers was among the main controversial issues that overshadowed the World Cup.
Since being awarded the right to host the World Cup in 2010, Qatar has come under scrutiny for its treatment of migrant workers, who make up the majority of its population.
The World Cup, which is being held for the first time in the Middle East, is subject to a wave of controversy, with the escalation of criticism by some football stars and European officials of Qatar’s record in the field of human rights, including the rights of workers, homosexuals and women’s rights.
