The Guardian has reported since 2013 on the need for action to protect migrant workers supplying the labour that fuels the ambitious “nation-building” programmes of Qatar and its neighbouring states...

Unexpected deaths of previously healthy young men remain unexplained or attributed to natural causes...

Britain’s two largest unions, Unite and Unison, have joined Amnesty and Human Rights Watch to call on Gareth Southgate’s England team to publicly back two proposals to boost migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. The first is for a migrant workers’ centre to be established, which would offer advice, support and representation in a country where joining a union is still illegal. The second regards compensation for relatives of the labourers who died while employed in the massive public works projects. Amnesty and a coalition of other human rights organisations and fan groups have suggested that Fifa put aside $440m for that purpose – an equivalent amount to the World Cup prize money on offer. With profits anticipated to top $7bn, that does not seem too much to ask.