FIFA's secretary general and Russian officials faced some uncomfortable questions over workers' rights, protests and Qatar on Monday
The conditions of stadium construction workers, potential civil unrest and a geopolitical crisis in the Persian Gulf left FIFA and Russian officials on the defensive during a press conference to mark the start of the Confederations Cup.
A report by non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned labour practices on construction sites for the venues used to stage this month's tournament and the 2018 World Cup.
However, addressing the media in St Petersburg on Friday, the local organising committee's chief executive Alexey Sorokin claimed the results of internal inspections did not tally with HRW's findings.