Wenger urges FIFA to pressurize Qatar to address `kafala` system tying workers to sponsors

London – Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has added his voice to the growing concern about conditions for migrant workers in the venues of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and has urged FIFA to put enough pressure on the Qatari government to address the kafala system.

The system ties workers to their sponsors and has been heavily criticised from a human rights perspective.

The European Parliament, who passed an emergency resolution condemning the practice, and an Amnesty International report which highlighted the issues, have increased pressure in the past week.

According to The Guardian, Wenger said that although the problems with the migrant workers should sort out as FIFA’s investigation progresses, it is down to the world football governing body to change those rules.

Wenger further said he believes that the living and working conditions, and the problems with exit visas which are controlled by the companies that sponsor immigrant workers, has been discussed at the highest levels lately.

The Frenchman has also been in touch with the family of Zahir Belounis, the French footballer who has been trapped in Qatar while his dispute over unpaid wages has been unresolved, the report added.