Emails show FIFA sought labour law exemption
Toronto Star|March 18, 2024
Concessions tied to 2026 bid raised concern at city hall
BEN SPURR
Emails show FIFA sought labour law exemption

FIFA requested that employees working on the 2026 World Cup be exempt from certain labour laws as part of Toronto’s bid to co-host the tournament, a concession that raised the concerns of then-mayor John Tory, internal documents show.

Emails to and from city staff that the Star obtained through a freedom of information request confirm that FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, requested governments provide specific guarantees as part of Toronto’s application to hold the tournament.

The documents don’t include details of the guarantees, but show that Toronto was trying to secure them from the provincial and federal governments as it prepared to submit its bid in March 2018. The emails show the guarantees fell into seven categories: visas and immigration; work permits and labour law; tax exemptions and foreign exchange; safety and security; commercial rights; telecommunications; and legal issues.

Former Toronto mayor John Tory raised concerns about a request by FIFA to exempt employees from some labour laws as part of the city’s bid for the 2026 World Cup.

The federal government wouldn’t confirm to the Star whether it granted the requested guarantees, although previous news reports indicate Ottawa agreed to major concessions like exempting FIFA from taxes during the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

A provincial spokesperson said this week that Queen’s Park, which is primarily responsible for labour law, has not provided FIFA any guarantees.

A city spokesperson referred questions about the issue to the other levels of government.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 18, 2024 من Toronto Star.

اشترك في Magzter GOLD للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 18, 2024 من Toronto Star.

اشترك في Magzter GOLD للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من TORONTO STAR مشاهدة الكل
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