Karl-Heinz Rummenigge speaks out against a boycott of the World Cup in Qatar.
The Bayern boss raises questions with a comparison about homosexuality.
Munich - The soccer world championship is to take place in Qatar * in winter 2022.
The emirate on the Persian Gulf has been criticized for years for human rights violations and the exploitation of guest workers on the World Cup construction sites.
Finally, the call for a rejection grew louder.
Karl-Heinz-Rummenigge *, CEO of Bayern Munich *, does not believe in a World Cup boycott.
World Cup boycott in Qatar: Rummenigge is against it
"In our opinion, cancellations do not lead to changes, but rather conversations,"
said Rummenigge in an interview with the sports magazine
The Athletic.
“Changes don't happen overnight, they take time.” According to Rummenigge's assessment, the partnership between his club and sponsor Qatar Airways in recent years has shown
“that football and dialogue have made things better.
Slowly but surely."
Nevertheless, Rummenigge sees the emirate still responsible:
"Qatar has to go on - but they have started."
FCB honorary president Uli Hoeneß recently hit the same line as RTL expert * at the World Cup qualifiers.
Rummenigge defends Qatar for homophobic attitudes
Rummenigge calls for patience and understanding when dealing with Qatar.
“One should not forget that Qatar has only been an independent nation for 50 years.
It is part of the Islamic world, with a different cultural and religious background, ”said the 65-year-old.
His following argument seems to be rather inadequate at the present time.
“We ask them to enshrine rights that Europe took hundreds of years to achieve.
Are you familiar with Section 175 of the German Criminal Code?
It criminalizes homosexuality and was introduced in 1871.
It was not until 1994 that it was finally abolished. ”
Homosexuality is a criminal offense in Qatar and is being prosecuted.
According to Article 201 of the Penal Code from 1971, “sodomy” is punishable by up to five years in prison, regardless of gender.
Rummenigge sees player criticism of Qatar as positive
As part of the World Cup qualifying matches, some national teams took a stand against human rights violations in Qatar.
The DFB team had sent out the message "HUMAN RIGHTS" with self-painted T-shirts.
Toni Kroos had also recently sharply criticized the working conditions on the World Cup construction sites, but classified a boycott as not expedient.
Rummenigge supports the actions of the national players: "The players have the right to make their concerns public." The human rights organization Amnesty International also does not consider a boycott of the World Cup in Qatar to be sensible and admits a reform process in the country.
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