FIFA will give greater prominence to the human rights record of countries bidding to host future World Cups , a senior official told the European Parliament Thursday . Theo Zwanziger , an executive committee member of football 's world governing body , was giving evidence on the welfare conditions of migrant workers involved in construction projects for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar . `` The Qatar authorities realize they can not continue with business as usual , '' he told the human rights panel of the parliament in Brussels . `` The country needs to think in general about the welfare of workers , '' he said . `` Everyone should do something to improve the appalling situation , not just FIFA , '' he added . On Tuesday , World Cup organizers in Dubai , who had been set a deadline by FIFA , unveiled an updated 'workers ' charter ' -- which pledged to address concerns over wages and accommodation for overseas workers and pledged regular inspections of construction sites . Critics claimed it did not go far enough , but FIFA told CNN Thursday that it was an important first step . `` We welcome the concrete steps taken which were announced by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy to ensure the welfare of workers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup , '' said a spokesperson . `` FIFA is pleased with the commitment of the local organizers to use the hosting of the FIFA World Cup to accelerate adequate uniform working standards in Qatar , '' it added . In his evidence to the parliament , Zwanziger also acknowledged that with the global spotlight falling on the Gulf state there was `` a risk and a chance ... it can help improve the human rights situation . '' But Zwanziger conceded that when the decision was made to award Qatar the 2022 competition its record on human rights had not sufficiently been taken into account . `` We need to rethink this and give human rights a much higher status , '' he said . Other speakers addressing the parliament highlighted Qatar 's kafala system -- which allows employers to withhold pay and prevent overseas workers from leaving the country by withholding their passport . Sharan Burrow , head of the International Trade Union Confederation wanted kafala to be ended immediately . `` Qatar is a slave state for 1.4 million migrant workers , '' she said . `` Workers live in squalor , and are forced to work under extreme conditions , in extraordinary heat ; they do n't have enough drinking water . They do n't have a normal weekend , are kept apart from other workers , and there 's no proper health care . '' Zahir Belounis , the French-Algerian footballer , who was unable to leave Qatar for several months last year after a contractual wrangle with his club , also gave an emotional testimony before the parliament about his experiences . Last November , European MEPs passed a resolution which called on the `` Qatari authorities to stop detaining individuals for 'running away ' from their employers , '' and demanded `` working conditions that are in line with international human rights standards . '' It followed a hard-hitting report from Amnesty International on conditions for migrant construction workers , who are involved in the estimated $ 200B infrastructure projects associated with the World Cup . FIFA president Sepp Blatter responded to the report by saying the situation was `` unacceptable '' before giving Zwanziger responsibility for heading up an investigation .
FIFA : - le football est un sport de guerre ; - les joueurs sont Human rights to be given greater prominence in future choice of hosts . Qatar organizers announced 'Workers ' Charter ' earlier this week .