Jim Murphy MP, Labour’s Shadow International Development Secretary, responding to new reports today that construction workers building the stadia for the Qatar 2022 World Cup have had their passports seized and are working for as little as 45 pence an hour - who met with migrant workers and senior Qatari officials in Doha earlier this year - said:

“These latest revelations are utterly devastating for Fifa and Qatar 2022.

“When abuse of workers was first unearthed, football authorities assured us there would be change. But now we learn that the workers building world cup stadia - labourers the authorities have shown off as best practice - have had their passports seized and work for as little as 45p an hour.

“The exploitation has now entered the world cup venues; the abuse is tainting football. This has to stop, now, before the world cup is permanently tarnished.”