WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing widespread bribery allegations within his organization and a failure to address Qatar’s documented human rights violations, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today urged Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) President Sepp Blatter to resign immediately and make way for a leader who will promote international standards in ethics and worker safety. The Senators pointed to the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar, host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and allegations of corruption surrounding Qatar’s bid to host the events as evidence that Blatter has allowed FIFA to “become synonymous with corruption and the inhumane treatment of workers.” Reports have indicated that Blatter is currently reconsidering his decision to step down as leader of the international sports body. Brown and Warren called on FIFA to promptly convene an elective extraordinary Congress and instate a new president who will strip Qatar of its host rights for the World Cup.

“In your tenure, you have allowed the World Cup to become synonymous with corruption and the inhumane treatment of workers,” Brown and Warren wrote. “We urge you to step down immediately as President of FIFA to make room for a leader that will strip Qatar of its host rights for the World Cup and ensure that this event promotes, rather than undermines, international standards in ethics and worker safety.”

“The corruption and abuse that has happened under President Blatter’s watch is appalling and it is past time for him to step down,” Brown said. “The world cannot stand by while thousands of workers in Qatar continue to be abused and exploited. FIFA must show that it does not value entertainment over human rights and strip Qatar of its World Cup host rights.”

Reports of fraud and foul play have surrounded FIFA’s 2010 vote confirming Qatar’s host rights for the 2022 World Cup. The Telegraph reported that FIFA official Jack Warner – currently under investigation for racketeering, money-laundering, and wire fraud – received $1.2 million from a company owned by a Qatari soccer official. The Guardian and ESPN have documented that Qatari employers are exploiting workers through abusive practices, including withholding wages, barring workers from leaving the country, and subjecting workers to inhumane and deadly working conditions. Qatari officials issued reform proposals in May 2014, but they have yet to be implemented.

Full text of the letter is below.

July 16, 2015 

Sepp Blatter

President

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

FIFA-Strasse 20

P.O. Box 80344

Zurich, Switzerland

 

Dear President Blatter:

We write regarding reports that you are reconsidering your decision to resign as president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). In your tenure, you have allowed the World Cup to become synonymous with corruption and the inhumane treatment of workers. We urge you to step down immediately as President of FIFA to make room for a leader that will strip Qatar of its host rights for the World Cup and ensure that this event promotes, rather than undermines, international standards in ethics and worker safety.

In 2010, when you announced Qatar had won host rights for the 2022 World Cup, there was immediate suspicion of foul play that has only been exacerbated in the years since. The Telegraph has reported that, following the 2010 vote, FIFA official Jack Warner – a man currently being prosecuted by U.S. officials for racketeering, money-laundering, and wire fraud – received $1.2 million from a company owned by a Qatari soccer official. The Sunday Times has further alleged that former FIFA secretary general Michael Zen-Ruffinen openly admitted that Qatari officials were working to “arrange financial deals with the African [FIFA executive committee] members in exchange for World Cup votes.”

In addition, you chose to award host rights for the 2022 World Cup to a country that lacked sufficient infrastructure to host such an event.  Now Qatar is in the middle of a massive construction build up, with Qatari officials saying they will spend $200 billion on new stadiums, a new port, and a new metro system in the city of Doha.

Unfortunately, Qatari employers are exploiting thousands of migrant workers in order to complete these projects on time. News outlets including The Guardian and ESPN have documented abusive practices by Qatari employers, including withholding their workers’ wages and barring their workers from leaving the country. Amnesty International has stated that Qatar’s kafala sponsorship system – wherein migrant workers pay to enter Qatar and become bound to their employers – “facilitates forced labour and a range of other abuses.”

In addition, Qatari employers are subjecting their workers to on- and off-site conditions that are inhumane and deadly. Workers have reported spending long days in 120 degree-plus temperatures with little to no access to cold water. The International Trade Union Commission (ITUC) has compared migrant construction workers’ living quarters to those of “horses in a stable.” ITUC further estimates that 1,200 migrant workers have already died because of these conditions. In 2014, Nepalese migrants working on these projects died at a rate of one person every two days.

So far, you have chosen not to demand change from Qatari officials but to instead accept empty promises. Qatari officials issued a number of reform proposals in May 2014, but, to date, none of them have been implemented. Migrant workers in Qatar continue to register long hours in intolerable heat and the kafala system remains untouched. ITUC expects the number of migrant workers killed as part of Qatar’s massive construction efforts to rise to 4,000 by 2022.

In light of these problems, we do not feel you are the right person to lead FIFA through the necessary process of “deep-rooted structural change.” As president, you have overseen the proliferation of corruption and worker abuse, and it is time for you step down. We urge FIFA to promptly convene an elective extraordinary Congress to instate a new president and strip Qatar of its host rights for the 2022 World Cup. Workers should not have to die in order for the world to enjoy a soccer tournament.

We thank you for your consideration of this request and look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,


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