Trade unions protest at the Qatar Airways Cup

Members of the ITF-affiliated National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) joined the protest, which leafleted crowds on the way to the stadium and held up slogans during the match. The RMT group carried a banner that declared "Qatar Airways: play fair on women's rights," referring to the discriminatory working conditions suffered by women migrant workers at the airline, which sponsored the match.  ITF aviation unions have been focusing on Qatar Airways since the Congress took a decision to do so, last summer. 

Campaigners sent in photographs of themselves wearing football gear, see #playfairqatar and playfairqatar.org.uk/#section-fans-photos for images from ITF unions and others.

"This was a really effective and visible protest which had impact," said Alan Pottage, RMT national organising coordinator. "Scotland's football association has heeded the warning and won't jump into a match like this in future. But this is only the beginning – the real pressure will be to change the labour laws, allow workers to be in unions, and end exploitation in Qatar."