NEWCASTLE and Brentford football fans are stand together in solidarity today to urge Fifa and Qatar to improve workers’ rights before the 2022 World Cup.

The event is part of a national weekend of action by union group Playfair Qatar, the TUC’s campaign with the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) to to highlight the ongoing horror of Qatar’s World Cup preparation.

Earlier this season, West Ham fans protested outside the London Stadium to raise awareness of the exploitation and abuse of rights faced by workers in the Gulf state.

Campaign co-ordinator and TUC policy officer Stephen Russell said at the time that the London Stadium was “at the heart of the safest Olympics ever — no-one lost their lives and that if “these standards can be applied for the Olympics they can also happen for the World Cup.”

At least 1,200 migrant workers have already perished during the preparations for the Qatar World Cup, with Doha’s own Health Ministry estimating that there could be 7,000 deaths before the first ball is kicked.

Northern TUC regional secretary Beth Farhat said: “Newcastle and Brentford fans may not have much in common on match day but we all agree that nobody should die for football.

“As Qatar prepares for the 2022 World Cup, we can’t turn a blind eye to the treatment of workers there. They face injury, miserly pay and are prevented from leaving the country without their bosses’ permission. Fifa and Qatar must act to improve workers’ rights before the World Cup.”

FSF chief executive Kevin Miles said: “We speak about respect a lot in football. But where is the respect for the workers in Qatar who make the World Cup possible? Fans don’t want a tournament built on exploitation and death. Fans, unions and campaigners will continue to speak out. It’s time for Fifa and Qatar to listen.”

Earlier this week, the International Trade Union Confederation swung its weight behind Dutch union federation FNV’s threats to take legal action against Fifa if it doesn’t stop the continued abuse in Qatar.

Mr Russell added: “Fifa has a responsibility to respect human rights in all its activities. Allowing a country reviled for its oppressive labour laws and poor safety record to build a World Cup more construction-intensive than any before was a fundamental failure of that responsibility and they continue to rule out using all their leverage to make Qatar play by the rules.

“The FNV case is a chance to demonstrate that in law, and we hope it opens the way to justice for the countless workers affected.

“Fifa have long told us that international football is a force for good in the world. Now they have a chance to prove it.”