Football international governing body, FIFA, has delayed a decision on Qatar World Cup season switch amid heavy criticism that the Arab country is not respecting labor rights.The final decision in which season to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar might be delayed until 2015, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said after the bodys executive committee meeting in Zurich on Friday.
There are concerns that the hot summer temperatures in the Persian Gulf country would threaten the health of fans and players both.
Blatter told reporters that FIFA cannot ignore reports of rights abuses of the world cup construction workers in Qatar, but added that the world body "cannot interfere with the labor rights of any country."
Last week, Britains Guardian newspaper said it had found evidence of forced labor on huge World Cup infrastructure projects in the tiny Persian Gulf state.
The report said some workers had not been paid for months and had salaries held back to prevent them from fleeing. It added that the state had confiscated the workers' passports.
In the report, workers also complained that they had been denied access to drinking water despite the fierce desert heat.
According to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), at least 4,000 migrant workers could die before the tournament kicks off in nine years' if the current conditions do not change.
Doha has denied the report as exaggerated allegations.
By Press TV
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