AMSTERDAM, 15 Nov. (dpa/EP) –
The Netherlands soccer team will auction their World Cup match shirts and donate the proceeds to migrant workers who helped build the stadiums in Qatar.
The Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) said in a statement that the funds will go towards protecting the rights, providing legal assistance and personal development to migrant workers, as well as funding football-related social activities.
Team captain Virgil van Dijk said it was “not lost on anyone” that the tournament has had an impact on migrant workers in Qatar. “They have worked on stadiums, infrastructure and hotel accommodation in very harsh conditions. We will remember that during all our activities there. It is clear to everyone that these conditions need to improve,” he stressed.
Van Dijk said that the team hoped that his presence would contribute to the change. “A lot has already been done to improve the situation of migrant workers. But we also want to make a contribution from the locker room. The auction will start immediately after the kick-off of each World Cup match for the Netherlands and will last until kick-off.” of the next match,” he said.
The shirts worn by the Dutch team in the UEFA Nations League matches against Poland and Belgium were auctioned off in September, raising more than 50,000 euros to support migrant workers in the Arab country.
The World Cup in Qatar begins on Sunday amid widespread criticism of the country’s human rights record, particularly with regard to the workers who built the stadiums. The Netherlands’ participation starts a day later against Senegal.