abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Story

16 Oct 2019

Qatar: Unexplained death of World Cup stadium worker one of hundreds dismissed as "natural" by authorities; FIFA responded

On 23 June Rupchandra Rumba, a Nepali labourer working on a football stadium for the World Cup 2022, died during his sleep. His death was attributed to "acute cardio respiratory failure due to natural cause[s]”; one of many such deaths recorded as "natural" by the Qatari authorities.

While fatalities of migrants in destination countries such as Qatar and Malaysia are attributed to cardiovascular disease and recorded as "natural deaths", a study published in the journal Cardiology draws a strong correlation between higher temperatures and mortality rates.

Postmortems are forbidden by Qatari law except in specific circumstances, and when deaths of workers are not recognised as work-related, families of workers are not entitled to compensation. Rubchandra Rumba's death therefore remains uninvestigated.

In a statement, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy confirmed they have begun an investigation into Mr Rumba's death. They identified a 'lapse of the pre-approval process' whereby Maskey Contracting was not pre-approved to work on the construction site and five of its employees, including Mr Rumba, did not receive required medical screening. The SC has also stated that all compensation due to Mr Rumba has been paid.

In December 2019, The Guardian reported that Nirmila Pakrin, Mr Rumba's widow, had still not received due compensation for his death. We approached FIFA for comment on this latest reporting; FIFA did not respond.

See also: 

This case has been added to our allegations tracker and can be accessed here.