ICTU highlights football industry cruelty

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is launching a campaign this afternoon to highlight the dark side of the football industry.

Workers who stitch the footballs used in the World Cup are paid €0.18 per item while the balls themselves retail for €99.

ICTU President Joe O’Toole says there are many children working in such factories.

He said: "There are kids of all ages working on this and children would be paid far less than adults, with their childhoods stolen from them and taken out of school.

"It's not just exploitation, it's not just they taking advantage of people, it is pure and absolute brutalisation."