The 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar have been attacked over human rights by a German member of the FIFA executive committee which is set to confirm a winter date for the tournament later in the week.
Theo Zwanziger, one of 25 members of the ruling body's decision making committee, told Wednesday's Bild paper that Qatar have made little progress on human rights issues such as the situation of migrant workers for World Cup construction sites.
"The human rights situation remains problematic," Zwanziger said. "I remain sceptical as long as there is no independent control commission. The Qataris promise a lot but have deficits implementing it."
Zwanziger said that FIFA president Joseph Blatter had raised the issue on the weekend in a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. Blatter was quoted as saying that "more must be done" while also noting that improvements are planned.
The FIA executive meets Thursday and Friday in Zurich, with the final date for the 2022 tournament top of the agenda, along with selecting the host for the 2019 women's World Cup and a look into the controversial triple punishment of red card, penalty and suspension for players who commit last-man fouls in the penalty area.
The Qatar World Cup was originally planned at its regular slot in June/July but a task force has now recommended moving the tournament to November/December to avoid the intense summer heat.
The executive is expected to approve the unprecedented slot despite protests from big domestic leagues in Europe whose action will be interrupted just as the continental tournaments Champions League and Europa League.
In the Bild interview, Zwanziger also spoke critically about the 2018 hosts Russia in connection with the Ukraine conflict.
While dismissing a possible boycott Zwanziger did say that Russian president Vladimir Putin "should know that Poland, Germany and France also have stadiums fit for a World Cup."
