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Qatar 2022: Briton dies working on World Cup venue

A British man has died at a Qatari World Cup venue
A British man has died at a Qatari World Cup venue

The organisers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have announced a British man died on Thursday while working on one of the tournament’s venues.

In a statement posted on its website on Thursday night, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy said: “Earlier today, a 40-year-old British male lost his life working on Khalifa International Stadium.

“The relevant authorities have been notified and the next of kin has been informed. An immediate investigation into the cause of this fatality is under way and further details will be released in due course.

“The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy shares our deepest condolences with the family for their loss.”

The multi-purpose venue in Doha – the current home of the Qatar national team – is being extended from its current capacity of 40,000 to 68,000 and will host the 2019 World Athletics Championships. It is scheduled to host World Cup matches up to the quarter-final stage in 2022.

Conditions for Qatar’s vast number of migrant workers have been a topic of much controversy ever since the tiny Gulf state was awarded the right to stage the World Cup in 2010.

International media outlets have reported on the high number of workers who have died on building sites in Qatar.

The local authorities, however, have disputed these claims and have repeatedly pointed out that the World Cup sites have a good record for worker safety.

But in a statement given to Press Association Sport, Labour’s shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said: “My thoughts go out to the friends and family of the person who tragically died working on a construction site in Qatar.

“This kind of incident is becoming all too common as Qatar prepares to host the World Cup in 2022 and it’s unacceptable that basic health and safety precautions are not being followed.

“FIFA and the Qatari authorities are putting profit before safety. New (FIFA) president Gianni Infantino needs to show where his priorities lie, launch an urgent investigation and ensure everything is done to protect workers.”