"Absolutely unacceptable": Goretzka brushes off Qatar's World Cup ambassador
Created: 2022-11-10 08:03
By: Florian Schimak
In the run-up to the controversial soccer World Cup in Qatar, the World Cup ambassador was criticized for harsh statements about homosexuality.
Bayern star Leon Goretzka is shocked.
Munich – When the 2022 World Cup starts in Qatar on November 20th, the most discussed and criticized tournament in the history of football will probably begin.
In the run-up to the event, for example, there was a lot of talk about allegedly unacceptable working conditions during the construction of the stadiums and the infrastructure in the emirate.
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Some critics even called for the football World Cup to be canceled in winter (until December 18) because of allegedly serious violations of human rights on the gigantic World Cup construction sites.
Even ex-FIFA boss Sepp Blatter now speaks of a "mistake" to have awarded the World Cup to Qatar.
Name: Leon Goretzka |
Date of birth: 02/06/1995 (27 years ) |
Position: Center Midfield |
Club: Bayern Munich |
Market value: 65 million (source: transfermarkt.de) |
Now Khalid Salman could have straightened out quite a few things in an interview with the public broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday (November 8).
What became of it in the end is worrying so close to the start of the tournament.
Khalid Salman: World Cup ambassador stands out with serious statements - ZDF interview canceled
The official World Cup ambassador said bluntly that he had problems when children saw gays.
They would then learn something, which is not good, he explained his view.
In his eyes, being gay is "haram", i.e. "forbidden" or even "mental damage", according to the former Qatar international in the ZDF documentary entitled "Geheimsache Qatar".
After this sentence, the spokesman for the World Cup organizing committee stepped in and broke off the TV interview.
The creators of the controversial world championship should obviously not expose themselves even more.
Or what was behind it?
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How does that go down with the footballers?
After FC Bayern had shot SV Werder Bremen 6-1 (4-1) out of the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening, a cheerful Leon Goretzka marched through the mixed zone of the Fröttmaninger Stadium and willingly answered questions from the press.
After all, the Bayern star is considered to be someone who frankly expresses his opinion - and also publicly.
Even during the Bundesliga game against the hopelessly inferior Hanseatic League, the FCB ultras in the "south curve" had let Salman know what they thought of his opinion by means of a banner.
"Damaged mind?
F... you Khalid!” read a large banner in front of the standing room.
Clear criticism of Qatar's World Cup ambassador: FC Bayern's ultras in the home game against Werder Bremen.
© IMAGO/Mladen Lackovic
World Cup 2022: Bayern star Leon Goretzka sharply criticized World Cup ambassadors
And Goretzka?
First of all, the "Mixed" talked about Bayern's fable performance.
But suddenly Goretzka's expression darkened.
A journalist asked the 27-year-old how statements like those made by the World Cup ambassador would make him feel so shortly before the World Cup.
"It's very oppressive, one has to say," replied Goretzka - and it became clear: "This is an image of man from another millennium.
That's not what we want to stand for and what we set an example for." Such statements are "absolutely unacceptable," said the German international in the catacombs of the arena.
Leon Goretzka (right) and Joshua Kimmich will both take part in the World Cup with the DFB team.
© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Straubmeier
FC Bayern Munich: Leon Goretzka is also positioning himself before the 2022 World Cup
As a reminder: Goretzka was also the footballer who cheered after his equalizer against Hungary (2: 2) in the preliminary round of the European Football Championship 2021 in Munich in front of the organized fans of the Magyars with a heart greeting after individual Hungarian supporters also noticed homophobia were.
On Thursday, national coach Hansi Flick will now announce the DFB squad for the 2022 World Cup.
Goretzka will most likely be a part of it and will be in the squad.
Will he get the opportunity to cheer with a heart greeting again?
(smk with sid)
Florian Schimak reports from the Allianz Arena