Football World Cup 2022 - DFB Congress on the subject of human rights: Qatar and Fifa are under massive criticism

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DFB sports director Oliver Bierhoff (photo from March)

Photo: Arne Dedert / dpa

Two months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar (November 20th to December 18th), the hosts and the world association Fifa have again come under criticism.

The role of the DFB was also critically questioned at a congress on the subject of "Sport and Human Rights" on the campus of the German Football Association in Frankfurt am Main.

Specifically, the International Building and Wood Workers' Union (BWI) has called on Fifa to set up a $440 million compensation fund for the families of workers who died or were injured on World Cup construction sites.

DFB President Bernd Neuendorf renewed his previously expressed support for the establishment of such a fund.

He also called for the establishment of several "working centers" to which workers could turn in the event of violations by employers.

The "Our Curve" fan alliance demanded that the DFB "become part of a progressive alliance" so that the supporters "could look forward to such football festivals again in the future".

In addition, the association had to forego any World Cup winnings in order not to enrich itself at the major event.

All profits should be made available to the »disenfranchised«.

Managing Director Christian Mihr of "Reporters Without Borders" described Qatar as an "absolute, autocratic monarchy" that would like to "cover up" the critical situation with regard to freedom of the press and freedom of expression through its investments in sports and the media.

The country, ranked 119th (out of 186) for press freedom, bans independent journalism and invests in internet surveillance.

Neuendorf is planning another trip to Qatar

BWI Vice-President Dietmar Schäfers, like Luise Amtsberg, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights, criticized the slow implementation of reforms in Qatar.

The Norwegian association president Lise Klaveness and general secretary Markus Beeko from Amnesty International Germany criticized Fifa's lack of responsibility for awarding the finals.

Neuendorf also announced that shortly before the World Cup kicked off, he would once again urge the improvement of the human rights situation in the host country on a joint trip with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD).

Bierhoff sees DFB-Elf facing a challenge

DFB director Oliver Bierhoff was also worried about the success of the national team at the tournament.

You have to find this "balancing act between responsibility and the awareness that we as humans have," said Bierhoff.

The "many noises and criticisms that come beforehand" should "not mean that we don't feel like going to the tournament.

But that we are looking forward to a World Cup, to measuring with the best in the world and to being able to represent Germany and hopefully get the next star," Bierhoff said as a sporting requirement for the selection of national coach Hansi Flick.

Bierhoff announced before the last group games in the Nations League on Friday in Leipzig against Hungary (8.45 p.m., TV: ZDF) and three days later on Monday in London against England (8.45 p.m., TV: RTL) that the national players would play again familiarized with the difficult situation in the Arabian Gulf.

In the previous year, the national players had called for compliance with human rights with actions immediately before the World Cup qualifiers.

Bierhoff recently criticized the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar, after he had previously seen it positively.

Ambassador compares Qatar to Russia

Qatar's ambassador to Germany, Abdulla Bin Mohammed bin Saud Al-Thani, called for his country to be treated fairly as the World Cup host and drew a comparison to Russia as the tournament organizer in 2018. »If we go back four years, the World Cup was in a country that Crimea was just taken, people in prison, oppressed people, and there was no attention from Germany and not from any other country in Europe,” Al-Thani said.

His country has been the focus for twelve years and has initiated many changes.

Al-Thani wanted Germans who were in Qatar - like the record champions Bayern Munich after their traditional winter camps - to report on their positive experiences: "Say it publicly, or keep your mouth shut," the diplomat put it in an unusually clear way choice of words.

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