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Uli Hoeneß
Photo: Andreas Gebert / dpa
Uli Hoeneß accused the German Football Association (DFB) of lacking courage in the dispute with Fifa.
“You didn't have the courage to stand up to Fifa.
That would have been urgently needed, because for me Gianni Infantino is a major catastrophe for world football," said FC Bayern's honorary president "RTL Direkt" and the "RTL Nachtjournal spezial".
It was "a wonderful opportunity to show him: up to here and no further," said Hoeneß.
Unfortunately, the DFB missed this.
At the World Cup in Qatar, Fifa banned the "One Love" captain's armband from national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and six other European team captains.
Instead, Neuer wore the "No Discrimination" bandage specified by Fifa, which is intended to stand against discrimination of any kind.
The world association had threatened sporting sanctions in the event that the multicolored "One Love" captain's armband was worn at the World Cup games.
»Leaning too far out of the window«
Hoeneß would have liked more determination from the DFB leadership.
»She has leaned too far out of the window with the announcement to be consistent, to follow through with the topic consistently.
And they didn't do that in the end," Hoeneß complained.
In the team photo before the 2-1 draw against Japan on Wednesday, the DFB professionals held their hands over their mouths in response to the ban on the "One Love" captain's armband.
Uli Hoeneß fears that the World Cup in Qatar will have a negative impact on the future development of football after just a few days.
"The World Cup, as it is currently presented, will definitely not be a success, that's already clear, and it will definitely damage football as a whole," he said.
Hoeneß believes that the lack of fan interest in the tournament in Qatar could mean that enthusiasm for the game will wane overall.
"If you look at the ratings, if you see people's enthusiasm for this World Cup, you can already see the damage," he said.
The audience ratings for the broadcasts of the tournament were significantly lower in the first few days than four years ago at the World Cup in Russia.
There are also fewer fans from Germany at the tournament.
According to Hoeneß, a boycott or an early departure from the tournament are the wrong way to go, despite the ongoing criticism of hosts Qatar.
'For years there was plenty of time to speak up and exercise the power to do so.
I don't think the European federations have realized the power they really have,' he said.
In the past, however, Hoeneß had repeatedly defended the controversial World Cup host himself.
"The World Cup will lead to better working conditions for people," he said just a few weeks ago.
The World Cup and FC Bayern's involvement in the Gulf region would lead to »the working conditions for the workers there getting better and not worse.
You should finally accept that and not keep hitting people.«
Qatar is considered one of the most controversial hosts in World Cup history.
Among other things, the emirate is accused of human rights violations, the exploitation of its guest workers, discrimination against LGBT people and a lack of women's rights.
ara/dpa