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Uli Hoeneß defends World Cup hosts: "The workers in Qatar are doing better because of the World Cup"

2022-09-25T12:34:12.663Z


Uli Hoeneß's calls to the soccer talk show "Doppelpass" are legendary. On Sunday it was that time again – and Hoeneß caused a stir. With his Qatar defense, he is reminiscent of another honorary president of FC Bayern.


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Uli Hoeneß

Photo:

Sven Hoppe / dpa

Uli Hoeneß did it again and called the football talk of the sports channel Sport1.

This time he spontaneously picked up the phone to defend World Cup hosts Qatar.

"The World Cup will lead to better working conditions for people," said the Honorary President of FC Bayern.

The reason for his call was the criticism of Qatar and above all the controversial involvement of FC Bayern, which is sponsored by the airline Qatar Airways.

Hoeneß particularly targeted studio guest Andreas Rettig, former DFL managing director.

He had previously sharply criticized FC Bayern.

“When a DAX company in which Qatar has a stake decides which shareholder to take on, it's up to the shareholders to decide.

If the club FC Bayern, which belongs to the members, says that they don't want that, then this will has to be accepted.

That's a major difference.

That's why I didn't understand FC Bayern's argument in the discussion.

With this policy of turning a blind eye, we are where we are.«

Uli Hoeneß then called Rettig the “king of hypocrites”.

He wanted to ask Rettig, who had previously called for the World Cup to become "the biggest PR disaster," "whether he doesn't shower that hot in winter anymore, whether he uses the gas that we're about to get from Qatar whether he's ever thought about it," said Hoeneß

An audibly angry Hoeneß continued: "And one thing is already certain: The World Cup and the commitment of FC Bayern and other sports activities in the Gulf region will mean that the working conditions for the workers there will be better and not worse.

You should finally accept that and not keep hitting people.” Hoeneß then added: “One thing is clear: the workers in Qatar are doing better and not worse as a result of the World Cup.”

Rettig countered: “It doesn't surprise me that you argue like that, Herr Hoeneß, as Qatar's ambassador.

I mean, you've been connected to the house for years.' He also added: 'I strongly recommend that you get an explanation of how things are in this country, how people work there.'

Memories of Beckenbauer are awakened

Hoeneß's statements caused a lot of criticism in the talk show and also on social media.

According to research by the Guardian, more than 6,500 guest workers have died in the desert state since the World Cup was awarded to Qatar.

Many of them probably on construction sites related to the World Cup.

However, Hoeneß is not the first honorary president of FC Bayern to defend Qatar.

In 2013 Franz Beckenbauer said: »I have not yet seen a single slave in Qatar.

I don't know where these reports are coming from.

I've been to Qatar many times and therefore have a different picture, which I think is more realistic.« He received criticism from all sides for these statements.

kjo/dpa

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2022-09-25

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