BRUSSELS - Human rights will play a bigger role when future World Cup venues are chosen, a top official from football governing body Fifa said on Thursday, amid concerns over freedoms in 2022 host Qatar.
"The World Cup award for Qatar occurred at a point in time...when human rights questions were not particularly central. In my opinion that has to change and I think FIFA will deal with this intensively after the World Cup in Brazil," Theo Zwanziger, a member of Fifa 's executive committee, said during a European Parliament hearing.
"We will have to attach a significantly greater weight to these questions and also pay heed during the call for bids and the bidding process that a World Cup can maybe truly bring about an enduring improvement in critical areas," he added.
Legal conditions could be created for Fifa to intervene if this does not take place, Zwanziger suggested.
Qatar has come under pressure after Britain's Guardian newspaper reported on the conditions of migrants working on building projects in the Arab country, alleging that hundreds of guest workers from Nepal lost their lives because of inhumane working conditions.
French-Algerian footballer Zahir Belounis also shared with the European Parliament his "painful" experience of having been unable to leave Qatar for years because of the country's kalafa visa sponsorship system.
"We must demand that where human rights of people...whether it's the players, the construction workers, garment workers or simple affected citizens are concerned, these must be safeguarded and firmly protected before a mega (sporting) event is being awarded," said Jonas Baer-Hoffmann of the FIFPro football players' union.
"The prestige and political significance of the highest level of sporting events, including the World Cup, including the Olympic Games is great enough to motivate change when it is a non-negotiable precondition," he added.
Russia has also faced criticism over human rights as it hosts the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Qatar this week outlined the first measures it has taken to improve the situation of foreign workers and protect their rights, but more still has to be done, warned Gilbert Houngbo of the International Labour Organization.
"Quite frankly, it's very clear that more decisive actions are needed," Houngbo said during the parliamentary hearing, which was hosted in Brussels by the legislature's subcommittee on human rights.
A delegation from the European Parliament is expected to visit Qatar at the end of March.