• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Artist Drops 6500 Deflated Balls Outside Of FIFA HQ In Protest 6500 Migrant Worker Deaths

Home> Football

Published 16:38 1 Apr 2022 GMT+1

Artist Drops 6500 Deflated Balls Outside Of FIFA HQ In Protest 6500 Migrant Worker Deaths

Qatar has come under fire for its treatment of migrant workers in the country, including the deaths of people working on World Cup stadiums.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

A German artist has joined the protests against the World Cup being held in Qatar, by leaving 6500 deflated footballs outside of FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.


There have been many voices against holding the World Cup in Qatar since the middle eastern country were awarded the tournament in December 2010.

Advert

Gareth Southgate recently added more noise to the issues recently, saying it was a 'shame' that some England fans wouldn't travel for the tournament, due to LGBTQ+ rights, and was then warned to 'pick his words carefully.'

Another reason for dissenting voices has been the country's general human rights record when it comes to migrant workers in the country.

According to some statistics, 6500 migrant workers have lost their lives working in construction in the past 12 years, with some of those building the stadiums that will be used.

German artist Volker-Johannes Trieb has placed a deflated football to signify each of the lives lost and called on people to boycott Qatar this winter.

Speaking about the incident, the 55-year-old told German outlet 11freunde, "I wanted to send a few pictures around the world and commemorate the many dead migrant workers who lost their lives on the stadium construction sites in the World Cup host country Qatar under inhumane conditions. 

Advert

"With the huge number of balls, I also wanted to make the gigantic number of fatalities visible."

The 6500 number comes from an article by the Guardian last year and the number is thought to have grown since then, something Trieb acknowledged.

"Amnesty International now speaks of more than 15,000 victims. This is a huge number that at first glance seems almost unbelievable. 

"But these people didn't all fall off the scaffolding, they died in a variety of ways. Some had simply sustained injuries that would never, ever have died in Germany. 

Advert

"Unfortunately, the medical care for foreign migrant workers in Qatar is so catastrophic that they didn't stand a chance."

Volker-Johannes Trieb at a previous exhibition. Image: PA Images
Volker-Johannes Trieb at a previous exhibition. Image: PA Images

On the warning to Southgate, the artist added, "I have spoken to human rights organizations from Bangladesh myself. A coffin from Qatar arrives there almost every day. 

"The whole world now knows what's going on. But he just looks away."

Advert

Homoesexuality between two men is illegal in Qatar but FIFA had said that fans would be able to take rainbow flags into stadiums during the tournament, to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

However, on Friday, one official claimed that flags may be taken off fans for their 'own safety.'

Featured Image Credit: DW Sports

Topics: Football World Cup, Qatar

Ryan Sidle
Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

X

@Sidler28

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • GettyGetty
    3 hours ago

    Man City Take Rare Action to Boost Atmosphere vs Man United

    Manchester City have agreed to the request from their supporters for the derby with Manchester United.

    Football
  • GettyGetty
    4 hours ago

    John Terry Warned Carlton Cole About ‘Diabolical’ England Teammate

    Carlton Cole got a warning from John Terry about the England star, who he linked up with the first time back in 2009.

    Football
  • GettyGetty
    5 hours ago

    Man United's 'Best Signing In Years' Named Privately By Club Insiders

    Manchester United's insiders believe a recent signing is one of the best additions they have brought in at Old Trafford.

    Football
  • GettyGetty
    6 hours ago

    Jurgen Klopp Targeted For Wild Return to Management Where He Could Face Liverpool

    The former Reds manager is in a senior role at Red Bull but remains an attractive candidate for big clubs

    Football
  • Nine Countries Have Refused to Play Russia in UEFA or FIFA Tournaments
  • FIFA Stripped Nation of Hosting World Cup After Israel Protest
  • FIFA Facing Calls to Strip United States of 2026 World Cup
  • Serbia Set to Face FIFA Punishment After 'Dangerous' England Incident