World Cup should be remembered for its racism. But Qatar is not the victim

As the Argentinian team basques in the glory of their World Cup win, the lack of basic human rights afforded to migrant workers cannot be forgotten, writes Pete Pattisson

The former UN special rapporteur on racism, Tendayi Achiume, said a “de facto caste system based on national origin” exists in Qatar, “according to which European, North American, Australian and Arab nationalities systematically enjoy greater human rights protections than south Asian and sub-Saharan African nationalities”. File picture: Adam Davy/PA

When Nasser al-Khater, Qatar’s World Cup chief, was asked two weeks ago about the recent death of a migrant worker, his response was both shocking and revealing. 

“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? I mean death is a natural part of life,” he said, before going on to offer condolences to the family of the deceased.