I think ulterior motive is a bit James Bond-y for what the original comment was trying to post. I think they're saying it's politically beneficial to drag Qatar through the mud, and that there isn't a serious concern for the well-being of the migrant workers there.

On some level, I agree. Migrant workers have been getting abused there for decades. First-hand accounts have been readily known for a few generations now, and was the primary driver behind Qatar becoming a tourist hot-spot in the 2000s. It's only really garnered steam in the past 5-or-so years even with reports of migrant deaths in-relation to the World Cup being known since ~2011. That's where I kinda role my eyes with the t-shirt activism and stuff.

To expand, contrary to popular belief, running someone through the mud doesn't require you to concoct a fake or blow an unnewsworthy story out of proportion. It's more-or-less about an effort to keep negative press out and about in the news cycle.