Further doubt has been cast over the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter reportedly telling a German newspaper that it would be stripped of the event because of links with terror organisation Islamic State.

This came after Amnesty International has criticised as “woefully insufficient” steps taken by Qatar to end abuses of migrant workers building facilities for the event.

According to a report in Der Speigel, Blatter told members of the Norwegian Football Association that the 2022 World Cup “won’t take place in Qatar”.

This was because of alleged links between Qatar and terror group ISIL, which is fighting against the Iraqi government and a large international coalition, including Australia.

But FIFA immediately denied the report. It said the claims attributed to “sources” in the Der Speigel report, based on a dinner during Mr Blatter’s visit to Oslo in October, were “unfounded”.

Said FIFA: “The topic of Qatar and the 2022 World Cup were talked about very briefly. Dates were discussed as there are presently discussions taking place to determine when will be the best time to stage the tournament in that calendar year.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International said urgent action was needed to ensure the tournament was not “built on forced labour and exploitation”.

The head of Amnesty’s department for refugee and migrant rights, Sherif Elsayed-Ali, said the oil-rich nation’s response response to migrant labour abuses “has not been much more than promises of action and draft laws”.

The treatment of migrant workers in Qatar has sparked international criticism following reports of alleged deaths at construction sites.

In May, Qatar gave undertakings to improve workplace safety, housing, pay and conditions for its expatriate workforce after world football’s governing body FIFA came under huge pressure from rights groups to review its decision to award the emirate the 2022 World Cup.

“Six months later, only a handful of the limited measures announced in May have even been partially implemented,” said Elsayed-Ali.

“Overall the steps taken so far are woefully insufficient.”

In an interview with CNN on September 26, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim insisted that laws have been changed.

“They are enforced and there are many laws that have been changed,” the Qatari ruler said.

But Elsayed-Ali accused the Qatari government of “dragging its feet over some of the most fundamental changes needed such as abolishing the exit permit and overhauling its abusive sponsorship system.”

The International Trade Union Confederation warned in June that as many as 4000 migrant workers could die in construction site accidents by the time the 2022 tournament kicks off.

“By failing to act quickly to address the gaping holes in its human rights record, Qatar risks seriously damaging its credibility and calling into question its commitment to human rights,” Elsayed-Ali said.

The London-based watchdog called for “concrete” steps by Qatar to “unambiguously abolish the exit permit” and “launch an independent investigation into the causes of migrant workers’ deaths.”

It also urged Doha to “drop prohibitive fees for workers to raise court cases against employers” and “publish the names of exploitative recruiters and employers.”

Qatar’s hosting of the tournament has also been shaken by accusations of bribery in the bidding process as well as the dates of the tournament because of the searing summer temperatures in the Gulf state.

with AAP