Amsterdam’s D66 party has proposed that the city only give permission for public broadcasts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar in November and December, if there are intermissions highlighting alleged human rights abuses.

Rob Hofland, a councillor, is proposing to the Amsterdam mayor at a meeting on Thursday evening, that the city should intersplice all viewings with information about human rights.

‘Everyone is looking forward to the World Cup football,’ he said in a press release. ‘But the reality is that human rights have been breached to make this World Cup possible. We believe it is important that the attention for this tournament is also used to highlight this darker side.’

Media reports have investigated the alleged role of forced labour and migrant workers in building stadiums and infrastructure for the tournament, with long hours and low pay or no pay. Eleven French cities including Paris and Marseille have said they will not show the games on large screens in protest at the circumstances surrounding the World Cup in Qatar.

‘We should not shut our eyes to human rights abuses, forced labour, and the fact that people have died to realise this event,’ said Hofland. ‘Instead of “sportswashing” for the leaders in Qatar, the spotlight should be on human rights violations.’

His party proposes that public viewings in Amsterdam should be prefaced and ended with information about these alleged human rights abuses, with other messaging during half-time pauses.