Qatar Will Have to Address Workers Right Issue: Ali Bin Al Hussein

FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein on Sunday ruled out re-opening of the 2022 World Cup bid won by Qatar if he is elected for the top job unless the Gulf country fails to address the issue of alleged rights violation of workers hired to construct the stadia. (Read more football stories here)

Ali, who was here for the Asian Football Confederations Annual Awards Night, however, emphasised that issues of violation of human rights and workers rights were among important criteria for a country to be awarded the World Cup.

"As an Asian, I am asking that they (Qatar) have to abide by that (issue of alleged violations of workers rights). I have seen suggestions from Qatar especially in terms of workers rights that they want to move ahead but FIFA has to guarantee that they do so," the 39-year-old Ali, who is the current Jordan Football Association President, told a select group of Indian journalists.

"Because that is the basis of how we should be. Football can be a right conduit to serve the society and that for me is the most important thing," he added.

Asked pointedly if there is any possibility of re-opening the 2022 World Cup bid won by Qatar, Ali said, "I don't think so unless something comes out that it (winning of the bid) was done in malpractice that was not brought up (earlier). If not, that is fine. But workers rights are also important. We have to make guarantee that they implement it.

"We are all equal and we are all human beings. Nobody should be treated in a wrong way. Nobody in Asia should be treated differently than anyone else. That is my view.

"My view is every country in the world has the right to host the World Cup if they have the means and capability to do so. It is not a matter of somebody is better than others. But the important thing is that things should be followed through properly. We have to implement the basic rights of people because that is an important criteria."

He also hoped that there would be transparency in the election process to choose the FIFA president in an extraordinary Congress on February 26 next year.

"I believe that worldwide a bit of shadow has been lifted. I believe it as an open election. I think the ethics committee and the electoral committee do things in a proper way and guarantee that there is no interference by confederations and by FIFA itself. Then I believe I will win this election," he said.

"It should be and it better be. We have one chance now," he added when asked if there would be transparency in the elections.