Liverpool rejected a five-star hotel in Doha, Qatar, after discovering a number of human rights issues surrounding the area. The Reds will head to the Middle East in December for the FIFA Club World Cup representing Europe as they are the winners of last year's UEFA Champions League.
The Reds were offered the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, a palatial luxury hotel on the artificial island of Pearl-Qatar, but turned down the option to stay there due to its controversial past.
In October 2018, an investigation by the Guardian revealed that migrant workers employed by the Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel were earning salaries below that of the minimum wage, which was a clear violation for labor laws.
The investigation also revealed security guards were working 12-hour shifts in 45C temperatures, earning little more that £8 a day.
According to the Athletics, Liverpool have now “informed FIFA and Qatari authorities of their decision and have relocated to a hotel on the mainland that did not generate so much controversy.
Liverpool’s decision to find alternative accommodation themselves is likely to increase the scrutiny on Qatar amid long-standing allegations of migrant worker abuse.
It is understood that FIFA and the Qatari authorities have been responsive to all of the club’s requests so far.
In Qatar, a large majority of the tourism and leisure sector falls outside of the control of the government, with many hotels being run by international multi-billion dollar corporations including the Kempinski. The country face frequent accusations over the use of slave labour as they prepare to host the 2022 World Cup.
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