Death of British construction worker in Qatar remains a mystery

Mystery surrounds the death of a Briton who worked on the construction of the stadium hosting England’s first match at the World Cup.

The findings of an inquest into the death of Zac Cox in Qatar have yet to be released three years after it opened.

High Court Judge Sir Robert Akenhead was appointed to look into the incident after Cox’s family were unhappy with the results of a local inquiry.

Uncertainty will highlight mistreatment of migrant workers at World Cup venues

Uncertainty will highlight the mistreatment of migrant workers at World Cup venues, with an Amnesty International report finding that up to 70% of the 6,500 migrant worker deaths in Qatar over the past decade “could be unexplained”.

Cox was 40 when he fell 130ft after a catwalk collapsed in January 2017 while helping build Khalifa Stadium in Doha.

A local investigation at the time of Cox’s death – the results of which were never published – reportedly found contractors rather than the tournament organizers at fault.

World Cup organizers – the Supreme Committee of Qatar – declined to comment on what happened to Sir Robert’s findings. It is understood that Cox’s family received their report in the summer of 2020 and it was agreed that they would decide when or if to make it public.

It is understood that the Supreme Committee was not blamed. Cox’s family did not respond to an invitation to comment.