Qatar: "Football can do much more than NGOs" (Franck Berton, Zahir Belounis' lawyer)

"If we can make it so the "kafala" system (which requires all foreign workers to have an in-country sponsor who is responsible for their visa and legal status) does not apply in Qatar for football players, this could open the door for all other workers. If agreements are made, it will be a sign of progress towards human rights...Football can do much more than NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations)," said Franck Berton, the lawyer for the player Zahir Belounis, who was held in Qatar for two years because of a conflict with his club, during a press conference at the premises of the UNFP (French National Union of Professional Footballers), on the 03/12/2013.

"We have a lever, which is the 2022 World Cup, and the Qataris, who have been criticised a lot, would like the pressure to drop. This is something that can yield a special situation for the players, and so much the better if it works," said Philippe Piat, president of FIFPro (International Federation of Professional Footballers).

"When we denounce this kind of situation, we criticise those who attributed the World Cup to Qatar. By…