Iranian fans savour victory but wrangle over protests

[Produced with Reuters colleagues Martin Petty and Charlotte Bruneau and published here on November 25, 2022]

AL RAYYAN, Qatar, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Iran’s national soccer team sang during the playing of their national anthem at their second World Cup match against Wales on Friday having refrained from doing so in their opening game earlier this week in apparent support for protesters back home.

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Refugee football fans lament last-minute rejection from Qatar World Cup

[Produced with Reuters colleague Riham Alkousaa and published here on November 18, 2022]

DOHA/BERLIN, Nov 18 (Reuters) – Syrian lawyer Amrou Sabahi had hoped to spend his first World Cup at the heart of the action, working behind the scenes at the stadiums in Qatar, the first Arab country to hold the crowning event of soccer.

But when the tournament kicks off on Sunday, the 27-year-old will be watching from Spain, where he lives as a refugee, after his application to attend the Cup, was rejected.

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Pilots raise alarm at Qatar Airways for doctored hours, hidden fatigue

[Published here January 27, 2022]

Pilots at Qatar Airways say the state-owned airline is under-counting their work hours and ignoring complaints of fatigue – a safety breach that hurts staff health and risks passenger lives.

The testimony demonstrates how worker abuse extends even to the Gulf nation’s high-skill industries, as Qatar Airways (QA) tries to minimise crew downtime.

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