In the German fan curves, the protest against the World Cup in Qatar and its circumstances is visibly increasing – and the associations don’t want to be dictated by FIFA to only talk about football. The German Football Association (DFB) published a statement on Sunday that had previously been coordinated with nine other European associations.
It said: “We will continue to support momentum for positive, progressive change and will continue to work and engage in a convincing outcome on the two crucial and open issues that we have been discussing with FIFA for a long time.” two topics about a compensation fund for guest workers and the concept of a guest worker center to be set up in Doha.
Fans are calling for a boycott
The International Football Association (FIFA) sent out a letter this week which, according to Sky News, said: “We know that football does not live in a vacuum and we are just as aware that there are many challenges and challenges around the world difficulties of a political nature. But please don’t allow football to be drawn into every ideological or political struggle there is.”
Both the DFB and the world association had confirmed that such a letter existed. In addition to Germany, associations from Belgium, Denmark, England, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Wales, Switzerland and the Netherlands were also involved in the response, although there was no clear criticism of FIFA and the much-discussed letter.
The associations welcomed progress made by Qatar on the rights of migrant workers and commitments made that all fans, including those from the LGBTIQ+ community, would be safe at the World Cup. They also agree with FIFA that diversity is a strength. “However, the commitment and commitment to diversity and tolerance also means supporting human rights. Human rights are universal and applicable everywhere,” it said.
That’s not enough for many fans in Germany. In the curves, a boycott of the world’s largest football tournament was openly called for. “15,000 deaths for 5760 minutes of football! Shame on you, ”was read on banners in the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
The Dortmund fans also called for a boycott in huge black letters on a yellow banner that filled the entire stand. The World Cup in the emirate has long been criticized for human rights violations and the treatment of workers from other countries. The emirate’s government refers to its own reforms and rejects some of the criticism.
