Arsène Wenger has added his voice to the growing concern about conditions for migrant workers in Qatar, the host nation of the 2022 World Cup. The Arsenal manager has urged Fifa to put enough pressure on the Qatari government to address the kafala system, which ties workers to their sponsors and has been heavily criticised from a human rights perspective. "Fifa has made an investigation and hopefully will sort that out," said Wenger. "It is down to Fifa to make those rules changed."

Wenger was mindful that the living and working conditions, and the problems with exit visas which are controlled by the companies that sponsor immigrant workers, has been discussed at the highest levels lately. The European Parliament, who passed an emergency resolution condemning the practice, and an Amnesty International report which highlighted the issues, have increased pressure in the past week.

He has also been in touch with the family of Zahir Belounis, the French footballer who has been trapped in Qatar while his dispute over unpaid wages has been unresolved. "I have been contacted by somebody from the family who asked for help," said Wenger. "But what I've heard in France is that the French government is involved and they are in a much stronger position than anybody else to help out. I am just surprised he cannot get out of the country and I don't know why really."

Belounis wrote an open letter to Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola in search of support for a system he described as "slowly killing me". He has been suffering depression as he and his young family have been unable to leave the Gulf state, with no exit visa forthcoming while he contests his case for unpaid earnings. The Belounis camp has heard positive signs that an end could be in sight to his predicament. They are hopeful for news within the next few days.