"It has huge benefits for our people in the Middle East as well as worldwide."Īmnesty and a coalition of rights groups recently called for FIFA to compensate migrant workers who developed this infrastructure to the tune of $440 million (£352 million/€411 million). "The benefits and the impacts of the World Cup in Qatar far surpasses the huge infrastructure that's taking place in Qatar. "Every time I'm in Qatar I see thousands of people from all over the world having the privilege and excitement of employment and taking money home with the building of the stadiums and the hotels," added Motsepe, who is the fourth-richest person in his home nation, South Africa. Motsepe, who was elected CAF President in March 2021, also said there were many positives for people who have worked on the construction of stadiums and infrastructure projects in Qatar, despite well-documented evidence of what Amnesty International last week called "human rights abuses on a significant scale" inflicted against migrant workers.ĬAF President Patrice Motsepe, left, is a major ally for FIFA President Gianni Infantino ©Getty Images "The other issue is that football has shown us over many years in a very unique way that it brings people together from different language groups, different races, different religious backgrounds. "This is going to be the best FIFA World Cup ever, we've got no doubt about that. "We cannot think of a better place or better personification. "It's a great privilege and honour for not only the Middle East, but for the developing world and football all over the world that the World Cup is coming to Qatar," Motsepe said.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on a panel which included FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Motsepe was full of praise for the host of the next World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 18. Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has backed Qatar to host the "best FIFA World Cup ever", also weighing into the debate on the treatment of migrant workers by saying their employment in the construction of venues has had "huge benefits".