Amnesty denounces human rights abuses in World Cup host country Qatar
A good year before the World Cup in Qatar, Amnesty International has again criticized the working conditions for construction workers in the emirate. While Qatar has introduced a number of reforms since 2017, these are not being properly implemented.
The partnership between FC Bayern and the Emirate of Qatar is not only controversial among some of its own fans. Manuel Neuer is said to have questioned the deal with the club bosses and addressed the human rights situation. The captain didn’t just speak for himself.
ESome fans of FC Bayern expressed their opinion very directly and unequivocally. During the Munich game against SC Freiburg (2: 1), they unrolled a large banner in the fan block with the inscription “We wash everything clean for money”. President Herbert Hainer and CEO Oliver Kahn could be seen on it. It was the preliminary escalation in supporters’ protest against the club’s partnership with the emirate of Qatar.
FC Bayern has been organizing its winter training camps in Doha on a regular basis since 2011. The state airline Qatar Airways has been advertising on the club’s jersey sleeves since 2018. The contract, which runs until 2023, brings the Munich company around 20 million euros a year.
The protest poster of the Bayern fans during the game against SC Freiburg
Source: dpa / Eibner press photo
Qatar has been accused of human rights violations for years; according to media reports, more than 6,500 migrant workers have died since the 2022 World Cup was awarded to the emirate.
But this has not only called the fans on the scene. According to information from the picture, the controversial partnership should also cause displeasure in the team. Captain Manuel Neuer is said to have made an appearance at the club bosses about six months ago, well before the protest poster.
Manuel Neuer has been the captain of FC Bayern since 2017 and the team’s mouthpiece, even when it comes to unpleasant topics
Quelle: Getty Images/Stuart Franklin
The goalkeeper is said to have asked for background information on the situation of labor and human rights in Qatar and critically questioned the sponsorship deal. In his role as captain, he also spoke on behalf of a number of teammates. Neuer and some teammates would welcome an end to the partnership after the contract expires.
“We got good money from this contract.”
Most recently, Bavaria’s former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke fairly openly at “WDR” about the club’s cooperation with Qatar.
“Bayern Munich has a partnership with Qatar Airways, and I was never a Pharisee there, if I may put it that way. We got good money from this contract, ”said Rummenigge. “One basically has to say that in Qatar of all Arab states at the moment the best or the greatest improvements are there in terms of human and labor rights:” It is well known that they do not have a standard comparable to Germany or Europe. “
Rummenigge defends business ties to Qatar
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge defended Bayern Munich’s business connections to Qatar again, partly because of the distorted competition in European football. These tendencies are increasingly dangerous for the Bundesliga.
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