Because of voting for Saudi Arabia
“It can’t be the way”: Fan rebellion at the DFB
December 6, 2024 – 9:23 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf will agree to the awarding of the 2030 and 2034 tournaments – despite the great criticism of Saudi Arabia. An alliance is angry.
Some German fans have sharply criticized the German Football Association’s (DFB) approval of Saudi Arabia’s bid for the 2034 World Cup. Under President Gianni Infantino, the world association Fifa is “degenerating more and more into an autocratic one-man show, and the DFB ducks away and applauds,” said the “Our Curve” alliance in response to a request from the sports information service. This is “shameful”.
At the virtual FIFA Congress on Wednesday, the 2030 and 2034 World Cups will be awarded in a double package – reportedly by acclamation – and there is only one application for both tournaments. The DFB wants to agree, the presidium decided this “unanimously,” said DFB boss Bernd Neuendorf on Friday. Rejecting the application from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has been widely criticized because of its human rights situation, would be “purely symbolic politics”.
“Our Curve” sees the problem “not only” in the DFB’s voting behavior in the coming week. It is also because “Bernd Neuendorf, as a member of the Fifa Council, supported every decision. For example, when it came to allowing double awarding again,” said spokesman Dario Minden.
The council around Neuendorf, who receives $250,000 annually on the committee, unanimously agreed on the voting procedure in October. Critics see the double award as a departure from the reforms that were introduced as a result of the FIFA scandal in 2015.
On this topic, Neuendorf referred to the already high level of support for Saudi Arabia. “Why should I rebel and play an opposition that would be doomed to failure?” said the DFB President. If the DFB were to take on Saudi Arabia, “we would have taken ourselves out of the game. We must work with FIFA to ensure that the situation in Saudi Arabia improves when it comes to human rights and sustainability.”
According to “Our Curve”, the DFB has a duty to take care of critical issues after the award to the desert state. In Qatar, “thousands died on the construction sites,” said spokesman Thomas Kessen, referring to the tournament two years ago: “The future dead of the 2034 World Cup are still alive today. Look the other way for ten years, take the money with you and then feel ashamed again Playing a tournament shouldn’t be the DFB’s way.”