Qatar 2022 World Cup: Increasing political crisis might risk hosting rights, claims report

Is the FIFA World Cup 2022 in danger?

According to a report assessing the impact of diplomatic crisis in Qatar, there is an increasing risk because of which the country may not host the World Cup in 2022. The report quoted by BCC, entitled ‘Qatar in focus: Is the Fifa World Cup 2022 in danger?’, says, “Western diplomats have privately stated they do not know whether or not the tournament will take place as planned. The reasons for this are many and include open allegations of corruption – both in the bidding process and in the infrastructure development.”

“Qatar is under greater pressure regarding its hosting of the tournament… the current political crisis has seen – or at least raised the possibility of – a Qatari opposition movement emerging. This means an increased risk for those working on, or seeking contracts for World Cup 2022 infrastructure… with a risk of non-payment and no realistic ability to enforce any legal contracts. Given the current political situation… it is certainly possible that the tournament will not be held in Qatar.”

The report continues, “Any cancellation of Qatar hosting the World Cup 2022 will likely be abrupt and will leave contractors involved in a precarious situation that may not be easily resolved. Construction sources in Qatar have informed us that companies working on the World Cup, whilst not panicking yet, are already feeling the impact of the sanctions, with logistics proving costly and challenging to re-organise in light of the border closures with its neighbours.”

“A group of five project managers working for a variety of small multi-national companies, all with government contracts related to World Cup construction, told us in July 2017 that their costs have increased by between 20 and 25% due to logistical problems.”

Qatar, however, strongly denied the allegation and has rejected a list of conditions for the lifting of sanctions.