After a migrant worker was confirmed to have died during the group stages of the event, World Cup chief executive Nasser Al Khater said “death is natural”.
The Filipino worker in his 40s was said to have passed away while working on fixing lighting fixtures in a car park at the Sealine Resort, where the Saudi Arabia team were based.
The cause of his death was described as he “slipped off a ramp while walking alongside the vehicle and fell headfirst against concrete”.
While reports did not indicate exactly when the incident took place, multiple sources claimed the death was an accident.
While Fifa said it was “deeply saddened by this tragedy”, its World Cup chief executive did not seem too bothered by the matter.
“Death is a natural part of life, whether it’s at work, whether it’s in your sleep,” Al Khater said, The Athletic reported.
“We’re in the middle of a World Cup. And we have a successful World Cup. And this is something you want to talk about right now?“
In a bid to avoid further responsibility for the incident, World Cup organisers the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said the site was not under its jurisdiction.
The treatment of migrant workers was largely under the microscope of the World Cup before the event began.
Around 6,500 workers were said to have lost their lives during the construction of the seven World Cup stadiums, the Guardian reported in February this year.
Qatari authorities avoided the matter for several months before claiming that only 414 migrant workers had died in labour-related accidents.
The World Cup has largely been a success on the field but off field matters such as this will long continue to plague the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
Pictured above: Nasser Al Khater
Image source: @EveningStandard
