Germany head coach Hansi Flick has expressed firm opposition to Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup, just two months out from the opening game.
After replacing Joachim Low after Germany’s elimination by England in the Euro 2020 last-16, former Bayern Munich manager Flick will lead Germany into a major tournament for the first time.
In Group E, Germany will compete against Costa Rica, Spain, and Japan. Their opening match is scheduled for November 23, three days after Qatar’s opening match against Ecuador.
In an interview with a German publication on Tuesday, Flick stated that the question of whether or not Qatar’s proposal was warranted “should have been answered far earlier – with a no!”.
He told the Suddeutsche Zeitung: “It is obvious that a lot is wrong in Qatar when it comes to human rights and sustainability.”
The Arab country has faced external criticism for its treatment of migrant workers and its record on women’s rights and treatment of LGBTQ people.
Amnesty International, a human rights organization, has demanded that FIFA implement a “remediation program” and warned that the World Cup might be “indelibly tarnished by human rights abuses” if migrant workers are not compensated for the “suffer suffered” in Qatar during World Cup preparations.
Flick has also expressed concern about a Qatar World Cup in the past.
Speaking in August, Flick said the World Cup would not be a tournament “for fans”, and would instead go against his belief that “football should be there for everyone”.
Beyond moral concerns, the tournament has caused problems for spectators, teams, and players because of Qatar’s restricted lodging options, the high travel expenses, and the transfer to the midst of the European club season.
Flick told the Frankfurter Rundschau:
“[I have friends] who would like to fly to Qatar, but choose not to for a variety of reasons.
“Football should be there for everyone. That is why I say it is not a World Cup for fans.”
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