image images/Joerg Boethling
Work and die: workers on a construction site in Qatar
Why should we boycott the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
For me, the focus is on the question of human rights, which are trampled on in the emirate. There is no separation of powers in Qatar. The country has been ruled by the Al Thani dynasty since 1971 – the World Cup was given to a family. Public criticism of the manor is forbidden. There are many forms of male guardianship, women are severely discriminated against. Qatar is one of the most dangerous travel destinations in the world for homosexuals. The roughly 2.5 million migrant workers often live in slave-like conditions. Wahhabi Islam is the state religion. Leaving a religion or converting from Islam to another religion is considered a capital crime and can theoretically be punished with the death penalty.
Who supports your appeal? Do you reach professional footballers with your idea?
The majority of the supporters are individuals. In the meantime, however, around 50 fan initiatives have also joined, and a few clubs from the amateur sector. Actually, we didn’t really want to get started until late autumn 2021. But then came Bavaria’s flight to Doha, the pro-boycott decisions of some Norwegian professional clubs and the reports of many dead on the World Cup construction sites in Qatar.
The thoroughly critical journalist Ronny Blaschke is against a boycott and calls for “more realpolitik”.
I really appreciate Ronny, but when it comes to Qatar, I don’t understand his position. She seems a bit naive to me. I could understand a rejection of the means of boycott. But sometimes that tips me in the direction of downright advertising for the venue. If I watch it correctly, “Realpolitik” in Qatar mainly consists of jazzing up even the smallest reform in the emirate to a revolution and keeping silent about the setbacks.
Are you talking to the DFB or is the world’s largest national football association avoiding the initiative?
So far there is no contact with the DFB. If the news is true that the association has sought a partnership from Qatar Airways, it will also be difficult to find consensus. Perhaps this request is an indication that the association is in dire financial straits. European football depends on autocratic regimes – see the main sponsors of EM 2021. Qatar is an important donor. The price that European football has to pay for this: nodding off sportwashing and never becoming so specific on the subject of human rights that the donors get annoyed.
Have there been attempts by FIFA to influence this? After all, a World Cup is a huge money printing machine.
Shortly after the start of the campaign, a FIFA employee dealing with human rights was contacted. But rather from the middle level. We then agreed that we would send him a questionnaire for his bosses. There were four to five harmless questions. That was six months ago. And we’re still waiting for the answers today.
How are German politicians reacting to “Boycott Qatar 2022”? Do you feel like you are being abused as useful clowns by certain circles?
No, not yet. I see the problem more with people who commonly trade as human rights activists but are willing to serve FIFA and Qatar. The human rights policy of FIFA has the function of a privacy screen, behind which one then cuddles intensively with autocrats. With people like Sylvia Schenk, known to many as an activist at Transparency International, I have the impression that her main concern is not about human rights, but about making major political events possible in autocratic countries. The national team is making a harmless “human rights action” that is criticized because Qatar was not named as the stumbling block. But this action is already too much for Ms. Schenk – because people could associate Qatar with the plea for human rights. Are you crazy?
National team fan club, powered by Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Saudi Arabian Airlines – is that the future of German football?
Yes, that could be the future. If it’s not already the present. Critical journalists and fans shouldn’t save with interference here. To the national team fan club: a terrible facility. I am a member of this association – because no one else can get tickets. That is customer care in the service of the sponsors, including useless and unimaginative giveaways.
Are national teams still up to date?
I sway a little. Football is and will remain a Janus-headed affair. Let’s take the last EM: You experience scenes of fraternization and international solidarity, especially among the players – and then again the worst nationalism, chauvinism, even racism. But I was only a fan of the German team in my childhood. In 1974 I converted to the Dutch. In 2010 and 2014 I “fevered” a bit with the Germans because I thought football was good and didn’t want the old ghosts to return – here regarding the game.
Do we need a new, independent German football association?
Sometimes I think: yes. What the association definitely needs: a lot of unrest on many fronts.
