Instead of a boycott: This is how sports experts from the Bundestag look at the World Cup in Qatar

Created: 2022-11-15Updated: 2022-11-15, 8:40 p.m

By: Andreas Schmid

The World Cup starts in Qatar on Sunday: watch or not?

© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa (montage)

Are you watching the World Cup games in Qatar?

We asked the sports policy spokespersons of the parliamentary groups that and more - none of them boycotted.

Berlin – The most controversial football World Cup to date starts in Qatar on Sunday.

The World Cup host has been criticized for human rights allegations, and Fifa for the corruption-related award process.

A large part of the active fan scenes announced their rejection for the tournament in the past matchdays, and some bars and restaurants also deliberately decided not to broadcast.

At the same time, Qatar has developed into an important global partner, also for Germany.

The Federal President, Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor met with the Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani this year. The Federal Government is planning an energy partnership with the emirate.

So how do you deal with the World Cup?

We put three questions to the sports policy spokespersons of the parliamentary groups.

The parliamentarians from the SPD, Greens, FDP and Left Party watch the games privately.

When asked by IPPEN.MEDIA, however, they refer to the difficult human rights situation on site.

It is the task of politics to change this.

At the same time, the German national team should take the initiative, some say.

Union and AfD did not respond to our request.

Will you watch the games or personally boycott them?

• Sabine Poschmann (SPD)

  : If time allows, I will follow the games of the German team, because of course I keep my fingers crossed for our team and, as the sports policy spokeswoman for my group, have an interest in the tournament.

  In view of the adverse circumstances of the World Cup, however, I have sympathy for anyone who wants to express their protest against the World Cup by boycotting the TV broadcasts.

• Philip Krämer (Greens)

  : I will follow the games, also because I've been invited to a few events where watching football together is on the program.

  I will also be watching very closely how Qatar and FIFA are behaving during the World Cup and whether promises are being kept.

• Philipp Hartewig (FDP)

  : Despite all the criticism of the World Cup in Qatar, I also want to express my support for the German national team.

  More than a boycott helps political actors seek critical dialogue with those responsible and also openly touch the wound.

  I will watch the games from Germany as a football fan.

• André Hahn (left)

  : I'll definitely watch a few games and the coverage around them, even if the usual anticipation of a World Cup doesn't really come up this time.

Throw in Qatar

This text is part of our theme week for the soccer World Cup in Qatar.

In the next few days we will also be offering you sport-political background reports on Qatar on all IPPEN.MEDIA portals.

more on the subject

This is how we report on the controversial World Cup in Qatar

Middle East expert in a World Cup interview: "A political boycott is simply not possible"

Free beer instead of public viewing: This is how pubs in Bavaria are fighting against the World Cup in Qatar

Should the German players criticize the human rights situation on the ground?

• Sabine Poschmann (SPD)

  : Criticizing human rights violations and unequivocally demanding improvements is primarily the task of politics.

  For this reason, the Federal Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, who is responsible for sports, traveled to Qatar in the run-up to the World Cup.

  The DFB, in the person of President Bernd Neuendorf, is also positioning itself very clearly.

  The German national players have to concentrate on their sport on site.

  However, if the team decides to set an example on site - in whatever form - then I expressly welcome it.

  But politicians must not shift their responsibility onto sport.

• Philip Krämer (Greens)

  : I would be happy if they do it of their own accord and use their popularity to achieve lasting change in Qatar.

  Basically, however, nobody can be forced to be political.

• Philipp Hartewig (FDP)

  : Every player will deal with the situation in Qatar.

  The DFB has also set up appropriate offers for the players.

  It's up to everyone to draw their own conclusions.

  It is important that our players have our backing when they speak out about the human rights situation on the ground, but also have our backing when they don't.

• André Hahn (left)

  : I would really appreciate it if our team did that.

When it comes to solving problems, sport refers to politics.

So how do you think countries that violate human rights should be treated?

• Sabine Poschmann (SPD)

  : The task of German politics is to clearly identify violations of human rights as such and to demand improvements from the countries concerned.

  However, one must be aware that changes can only be initiated slowly.

  It is therefore important to support reform efforts within individual countries.

  In the future, major sporting events may no longer be awarded without any consideration of the human rights situation - as was unfortunately the case in 2010 with the award to Qatar.

  It is good that in 2016/17 FIFA adjusted its award criteria with regard to human rights.

  We will measure FIFA against this in future awards.

• Philip Krämer (Greens)

  : Compliance with universal human rights must be a mandatory part of the awarding of major sporting events.

  Here it would be conceivable to work with fixed intermediate goals up to the date of the event.

  If these are not achieved by the host nation, it must also be possible to withdraw an award without any consequences. 

• Philipp Hartewig (FDP)

  : With regard to the situation in Qatar, it is important that politicians work towards the implementation of the reform processes, which were primarily initiated by public pressure.

  Award criteria for major sporting events must be aligned with human rights standards.

  This applies above all to compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and Sustainability.

  Associations and hosts should be obliged to avoid risks and ensure effective redress mechanisms to protect all parties involved in the event of violations.

  German applications for major international sporting events can also promote a value-based organization and implementation of such events as a whole.

• André Hahn (left)

  : If you take a look at official human rights reports, you will find that there are violations of UN human rights conventions in many countries around the world, even in those that are generally considered democratic.

  Of course, there are differences in the nature and scope of violations.

  This is one of the reasons why I have repeatedly spoken out in favor of dialogue instead of boycotts, and not just with regard to Qatar.

  This is the only way that sport can make an active contribution to peace, international understanding and the enforcement of human rights.

  At the same time, I expect the federal government to respect human rights as a non-negotiable criterion for sport as well as for the economy, trade and other forms of international cooperation.

Andrew Schmid