Harry Kane says England plan to ‘use their platforms’ to inspire change in Qatar at World Cup

England captain Harry Kane says the Three Lions squad will use their platform at the World Cup to try and improve the human rights issues in Qatar. 

With just over seven months to go until the tournament starts, Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers that have been building infrastructure – including stadiums for the tournament – has been fiercely criticised. 

In addition, the Middle Eastern nation has made male homosexuality a punishable crime and refused to recognise same-sex marriages. Plus, women’s rights are much tighter than in other parts of the world. 

As a result, Kane revealed that the England squad and staff met for half an hour on Tuesday evening to discuss their stance on the situation ahead of the World Cup. 

The Tottenham striker said that England had ‘never shied away from important issues’ and that they would not start now. He revealed that the Three Lions would ‘help in any way’ they could. 

Kane also explained how he was planning to speak to ‘other national team captains to see whether’ they could create a ‘unified approach’.  

Speaking at a press conference ahead of England’s friendlies with Switzerland and Ivory Coast. Kane said: ‘We had that meeting last night and I think it was important to talk with the manager and the staff and the players.

Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup between 21 November and 18 December next year

Qatar’s International Labour Organisation found 50 immigrant workers died last year alone

‘Obviously we wanted to qualify for the World Cup before doing that and we’ve done that. So it was our first chance to have that chat. Gareth led that meeting and we spoke about what to expect and some of the important issues which are surrounding the World Cup 

‘For us now as players it’s important to talk among ourselves – not just this camp but the camps going forward as well in June.

‘I feel as a group we’ve never shied away from important issues, and we’ve always had our opinions and tried to show unity in anything we’ve done. That’s what will happen now over this camp and the next camp to try to help in any way we can to support those issues. 

‘As players we didn’t choose where this World Cup was going to be. But what it has done is it has shone a light on important issues which might not have come to light if the World Cup wasn’t there.

‘We have to try to help as much as possible to understand the issues and the situations. We’re no experts in that field at the moment in terms of what we know but as always we try to help in any way we can, we try to use our platform to help in any way we can.

Additionally, Qatar’s women’s rights are much tighter than in other parts of the world

Kane revealed that the England squad met for half an hour on Tuesday to discuss their stance

‘I understand there has been some progress on certain issues in the country so far. What my hope is that having the World Cup there and having this light on the country will help try and progress some of the issues which have been going on for a long time.

‘There’s a couple of other national team captains in my team at Tottenham, maybe [I will be] talking to other national team captains to see whether we can be unified in what we try and do and approach it. That’s something myself and some of the senior players in the team will look to try to achieve over the coming months.

‘There’s still a lot of progress to be made. But hopefully all of us, like we have done in the past, can try to make change with the platforms that we have.’

England footballers have become increasingly vocal and active on human rights and political issues such as taking the knee for BLM and supporting school meals.

World Cup organisers and FIFA have claimed only three workers have died from industrial accidents while constructing World Cup grounds. 

Spurs striker, Kane, says that England players have ‘never shied away from important issues’

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Kane said that England will use their defeat to Italy as motivation 

However, campaigners say 33 workers have died on World Cup projects, many of which were unexplained deaths, and that 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since 2010. 

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Kane has said that England will use their defeat to Italy in July as motivation to win the World Cup. 

He said: ‘From where we were pre-World Cup 2018 to where we are now, we’ve made massive strides, with the squad, with the team, with the connection with the fans,’ said Kane. ‘There’s definitely an expectation on us now.

‘Obviously the final in the summer still hurts. It still has a bitter taste in the mouth but for sure it gives you more hunger, more fire in the belly to take that one step further and try to win a major tournament.

‘We’re working towards that, we feel like we’re improving every year. Hopefully we can take big strides to becoming one of the best teams in the history of the England national team.’