Liverpool have rejected five-star hotel in Qatar as base for FIFA Club World Cup
Liverpool FC Champions League jubilation |
Liverpool have rejected a five-star hotel in Doha, Qatar, after discovering a number of human rights issues surrounding the spot.
The Reds will go to the Middle East in December for the FIFA Club World Cup, a challenge they qualified for after winning the Champions League in June.
They were offered the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, a luxury hotel on the artificial island of Pearl-Qatar, but turned down the option to stay there due to its dubious past, according to The Athletic.
Artificial Island in Qatar |
In October 2018, an investigation by the Guardian revealed that migrant workers employed by the Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel were earning salaries below that of the minimum wage and were in breach of labour laws.
The investigation also revealed security guards were working 12-hour shifts in 45C temperatures, earning little more that £8 a day.
The Athletic also claims Liverpool have now “informed FIFA and Qatari authorities of their decision and have relocated to a hotel on the mainland that did not generate any such worries.”
Liverpool’s decision to find alternative accommodation themselves is likely to increase the scrutiny on Qatar amid long-standing allegations of migrant worker abuse.
It is understood that FIFA and the Qatari authorities have been responsive to all of the club’s requests so far.
In Qatar, a large majority of the tourism and leisure sector falls outside of the control of the authorities, with many hotels being run by global corporations including the Kempinski.
The country face frequent accusations over the use of slave labour as they prepare to host the 2022 World Cup.
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