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Thomas Hitzlsperger: "After the last World Cup, Russia has not become more democratic or liberal either"
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Pressefoto Rudel / Robin Rudel / imago images / Sportfoto Rudel
Former national player Thomas Hitzlsperger has called for more honesty in the discussion about awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. He prefers "when you say tough: The Arab world is an important market with powerful sponsors, they have submitted a top application, so we play there," said the chairman of the Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart to the football magazine "Kicker".
The World Cup host is controversial, among other things, because of his dealings with guest workers.
Hitzlsperger believes that the right approach is to use the tournament to focus on social circumstances and, if possible, to initiate changes.
"You are trying to use the old diplomatic idea of change through rapprochement," said the 39-year-old.
However, he doesn't believe that the World Cup will bring about any major changes.
It will not be difficult for the world association Fifa to show pictures for four weeks that give the impression of progress without anything fundamentally changing in the country in the coming years.
“But I don't believe in a sustainable improvement through a World Cup alone.
Russia has not become more democratic or liberal after the last World Cup, ”said Hitzlsperger.
In recent years there has been repeated research by the media and human rights organizations that reported blatant human rights violations in Qatar.
According to reports, Qatar has so far only inadequately implemented announced reforms.
sak / dpa
