STUC Issues Qatar March Call To SFA

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) is facing calls to speak to Qatar about migrant worker abuse'' ahead of a match between the countries on Friday.

Concerns have been raised about the plight of migrant workers in the Gulf state, host of the 2022 World Cup.

Hundreds of workers have reportedly died or been killed while working on construction sites ahead of the tournament.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has written to the SFA, calling on it to speak out on the appalling labour abuse'' ahead of Friday's Vauxhall International challenge match between Scotland and Qatar at Easter Road in Edinburgh.

STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said the association should use the opportunity of the game to make representations to the Qatari authorities.

In a letter to SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, he said: Since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar, workers have been dying there at a rate of around 40 per month.

If this rate continues, the International Trade Union Confederation's prediction of 4,000 fatalities will prove tragically conservative.

I urge you and the SFA to speak out and call on Qatar, through whatever channels are available to you, to address urgently the plight of the workers preparing to host the World Cup.''

The SFA today stressed its condemnation of any human rights abuses.

It said in a statement: ''As noted recently by Amnesty International, it is important that universal reach of football can be used in a positive manner to highlight inequalities and be a force for good.

''It is with this in mind that we welcome Qatar to Easter Road in June as part of their tour of the United Kingdom.

The statement went on: We are cognisant of disturbing reports on theconditions experienced by migrant workers involved in the building of stadia for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022.

''For the avoidance of doubt, the Scottish FA condemns any behaviour that compromises human rights and, in conjunction with the Scottish Government, we have already stated our joint offer to provide practical support.