FIFA Qatar 2022 World Cup

Gianni Infantino

FIFA president

Federation Internationale de Football Association

FIFA Qatar 2022 World Cup

Dear Mr. Infantino,

We are writing to express our deep concerns about the continuous and systematic human rights violations committed against migrant workers in Qatar and call on you to remedy those abuses.

Elkjøp Norway is the biggest retailer in consumer electronics in Norway, and we are part of Elkjøp Nordic who is owned by the British company Currys PLC. We are re-considering our longterm position as sponsors to the big european and global football national championships this year. We have kept an agreement with tv2, the biggest commercial tv station in Norway but instead of being a traditional sponsor we have donated our commercial spots to a charity in Norway who works for human rights globally, and we choose not be visible with our brand during the Championship.

We are disappointed by the fact that FIFA did not carry out human rights due diligence before awarding Qatar the 2022 World Cup and that it did not seek human rights commitments from Qatar.

While we recognize that there have been legal reforms that benefit migrant workers in Qatar, several of these reforms do not live up to international human rights standards and many loopholes still exist which undermine their efficiency. We believe FIFA should exercise its influence to push for improved conditions for migrant workers in Qatar. Furthermore, FIFA must contribute to establish a comprehensive and participatory program to remedy migrant workers for historic human rights violations they have suffered in Qatar.

We hope the claims will be met, and that you will fulfill your corporate responsibilities under the globally endorsed United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles), which FIFA itself has recognized in its own human rights policy.