• World Cup

Players' union seek urgent Qatar rights talks

ESPN staff
November 26, 2013
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for an end to the unfair treatment of migrant workers in Qatar who are helping the country prepare for the 2022 World Cup

The international players' union says a delegation is going to Qatar to seek "urgent talks" over concerns the rights of players are being abused in the 2022 World Cup host nation.

FIFPro is demanding action is taken to stop players who are in dispute with Qatari clubs from being prevented from leaving the country.

The "kafala" employment system has been thrust back onto the international agenda by the case of French-Algerian player Zahir Belounis. He is under contract at Al-Jaish until 2015 but has been denied the chance to leave Qatar because he is suing the club in order to recover unpaid salary.

During a four-day visit to Qatar starting Thursday, FIFPro says its delegation plans to meet Belounis and "implore local authorities to hear his cry for help."

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