Toni Kroos Hits Out At Qatar Hosting The 2022 FIFA World Cup Amid Alleged Human Rights Violations

Real Madrid star Toni Kroos has launched a scathing criticism over FIFA's decision to award Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup.

Qatar has faced growing backlash from the international community over the dangerous conditions that workers have been subjected to in preparing for the upcoming tournament.

Kroos' native homeland of Germany have held protests ahead of their World Cup qualifying matches this month amid claims of alleged human rights violations in Qatar.

The Guardian reported in February that an astonishing 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since the country won the rights to stage the World Cup over a decade ago.

According to the newspaper, the migrants who died came from countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Kroos, who lifted the World Cup with Germany in 2014, hit out at the working conditions in Qatar as "absolutely unacceptable."

The 31-year-old Germany international told Felix Kroos' Einfach mal Luppen podcast: "I think it's wrong that this tournament was given [to Qatar].

"Immigrant workers are subjected to days without rest with the temperature under a torrid 50 degrees, they suffer from insufficient nutrition, without drinking water and at crazy temperatures. All of these points are absolutely unacceptable."

Despite Kroos' criticism of Qatar's alleged working conditions, the German midfielder doesn't support the idea of a boycott for next year's World Cup.

The former Bayern Munich star added: "Would a boycott serve to improve working conditions? I think not.

"Football always arouses extreme attention. Be it before the tournament or during it."

FIFA has shown no desire of shifting the World Cup rights away from Qatar, saying that there are "very stringent" health and safety measures that are being upheld on construction sites.

"With the very stringent health and safety measures on site, the frequency of accidents on FIFA World Cup construction sites has been low when compared to other major construction projects around the world," reads FIFA statement.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, FIFA, Toni Kroos, World Cup, Spain, Real Madrid, La Liga

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

@AdnanRiaz9