Qatar has launched a workplace safety investigation into the death of a Filipino, say officials, after reports the man died while working at a training site during the Football World Cup.
Qatar's treatment of migrant workers has come under enormous scrutiny during the tournament, with human rights groups accusing the Gulf state of systematic labour abuses - charges rejected by the government.
2022 World Cup chief executive Nasser Al Khater has confirmed a worker died, but gave no further details. He has offered his condolences to his family and said "death is a natural part of life".
The Philippines foreign ministry confirms one of its nationals died while working at a resort south of the capital Doha. It says its embassy is "working with legal authorities to ascertain more details of his passing".
Online sports publication The Athletic reports the man worked for a company contracted to fix lights in a carpark at the Sealine Resort, the training site of the Saudi national team. It says he died, after he slipped off a ramp, while walking alongside a forklift, and hit his head on concrete.
Citing unnamed sources, The Athletic says the accident happened during the World Cup, but did not specify when.
The Philippines statement says it will not provide further details out of respect for the man's family. The resort has not responded to a Reuters query.
"If the investigation concludes that safety protocols were not followed, the company will be subject to legal action and severe financial penalties," said a Qatar government official.
"The rate of work-related accidents has consistently declined in Qatar, since strict health and safety standards were introduced and enforcement has been stepped up."
Disputed death numbers
Since being awarded World Cup hosting rights in 2010, Qatar has come under the microscope over its treatment of migrant workers, who account for most of its population.
The tournament - the first to be held in the Middle East, where other countries have also faced criticism over migrant workers' rights - has been mired in controversy, with some soccer stars and European officials criticising Qatar's human rights record, including on labour, LGBT+ and women's rights.
Qatar's World Cup organisers - the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy - says it is not involved in the Qatari investigation, as "the deceased [was] working as a contractor, not under the remit of the SC".
The number of work-related deaths in Qatar is in dispute. Last year, the UK's Guardian newspaper reported at least 6500 migrant workers - many of them working on World Cup projects - had died in Qatar since 2010, based on its calculations from official records.
In response, Qatar said the number of deaths was proportionate to the size of the migrant workforce and included many non-manual workers, adding every life lost was a tragedy. The SC said three work-related deaths and 37 non-work-related deaths had happened on World Cup-related projects.
"Death is a natural part of life, whether it's at work, whether it's in your sleep," Khater said, voicing disappointment at journalists' questions.
"We're in the middle of a World Cup and we have a successful World Cup, and this is something you want to talk about right now?" he said.
Reuters
