The Qatar Players’ Association (QPA) last Thursday hosted representatives from FIFPro, the International Association of Professional Footballers, to discuss initiatives aimed at aligning the QPA with FIFPro-approved standards on how to best represent players.<\/p>\n
FIFPro officials welcomed recent developments between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Government of Qatar who have entered into a three-year technical cooperation commitment aimed at strengthening national regulations and practices and implementing extensive labour reforms.\u00a0 The agreement provides an outline for ensuring employers and workers realize fundamental principles and rights at work, in line with international labour standards.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.qpa.qa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/1-300x167.jpg\")
Fifpro President Philippe Piat said: \u201cThe ILO agreement with Qatar will benefit players as workers, together with the creation of the QPA, the country\u2019s first-ever association for professional footballers. The 2022 FIFA World Cup is inspiring progress in Qatar, and I expect the event and its legacy to be a big success.\u00a0 We look forward to working together with all parties representing football in Qatar to assist in ensuring that success.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of its commitment to FIFPro, the QPA said that an agreement has been reached between relevant government bodies and officials from the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Stars League (QSL) to immediately implement the reforms announced by the Qatari government within the footballing administrative bodies.\u00a0 The \u2018Kafala\u2019 system will be replaced by an employer-employee contract.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re pleased to see the end of restrictions on freedom of movement,” Piat said. \u201cBy elevating the rights of players, it provides a promising new platform to build the game in Qatar.\u00a0 It is vital that players are adequately represented and with that in mind, we look forward to ratifying the QPA\u2019s status as a full member of Fifpro at our Board Meeting in early February 2018\u201d.<\/p>\n
FIFPro and the QPA took the opportunity today to announce that a solution had been found in the long-running dispute between French-Algerian footballer, Zahir Belounis, and El-Jaish Sports Club. Belounis left Qatar in late 2013 amid claims of unpaid wages.<\/p>\n
“FIFPro has been advising Zahir Belounis for some time and with the assistance and mediation of the QPA we were able to negotiate a fair settlement,” Piat said. “We\u2019re happy to move on and thankful to all who made this agreement possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.qpa.qa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/4-300x172.jpg\")
The QPA and FIFPro are now working towards reviewing and the implementation of a standard employment contract to guarantee minimum working conditions, as well as reviewing the existing Foundation of Qatar Sports Arbitration rules to ensure that players have access to a fair, football-specific legal system in the event of dispute.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have worked hard to establish the QPA as an integral entity within the Qatari football family and as a respected and independent players\u2019 representation organisation on the international stage.\u201d\u00a0 Al Ansari said.\u00a0 \u201cThe Zahir Belounis\u2019 case underlined the importance of the existence and recognition of the QPA.\u00a0 We worked diligently \u2013 along with Fifpro and numerous local stakeholders to ensure that solutions were found satisfying all parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased to hear that our status as a full Fifpro member will be approved, and very much appreciate President Piat\u2019s support.\u00a0 This is an important step for the development of our organisation.\u00a0 Existing within Fifpro\u2019s framework provides us with the support system required to properly ensure that the rights of our players are protected inside and outside of Qatar and we look forward to a long and productive relationship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Qatar Players’ Association (QPA) last Thursday hosted representatives from FIFPro, the International Association of Professional Footballers, to discuss initiatives aimed at aligning the QPA with FIFPro-approved standards on how to best represent players. FIFPro officials welcomed recent developments between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Government of Qatar who have entered into a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[118,35],"class_list":{"0":"post-1957","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-fifpro","9":"tag-news","10":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n