DFB President Bernd Neuendorf and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser get an idea of the situation in Qatar. The pressure on the World Cup hosts and FIFA should be increased. But that is difficult.
The already complicated trip to Qatar by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has not become any easier. However, after the SPD politician’s critical statements in the direction of the World Cup host country and the subsequent official protest by the disgruntled Foreign Ministry in Doha, the planning of the meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Chalid bin Chalifa Al Thani and FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Tuesday (01.11. 2022) recorded. It remains a balancing act for the German delegation.
The Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights, Luise Amtsberg, has canceled her participation in the trip. “The developments this weekend made it clear to me how difficult it is in the current situation leading up to the soccer World Cup to hold the open and critical talks I planned about the human rights situation in Qatar with the Qatari government.”said the Green politician, according to a statement from the Federal Foreign Office.
Clear positioning despite new connections
Faeser and Neuendorf had clearly positioned themselves when announcing the trip: Human rights and the living conditions of foreign workers should be discussed – those topics that are on the agenda in Germany shortly before the final round (November 20th to December 18th) kicks off. In the course of the energy crisis, the federal government also created new connections to Doha. Before Faeser, Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz were in the emirate. It was only marginally about human rights.
After her arrival, Faeser was initially awaited by a round of talks that would deal with the situation of the construction workers, who mainly come from South Asia. The meeting, which will include a representative from the International Labor Organization (ILO), will be organized at a museum dedicated to the history of slavery – in Qatar and elsewhere. The building that has housed the “Bin Jelmood House” since 2015 was formerly the home of a well-known slave trader.
Faeser in the ARD magazine “Monitor”: “Totally difficult”
The ILO regards the allegations of modern slavery in Qatar as unfounded. “This is far from the truth”said Max Tunon, ILO Office Director for Doha: “There are definitely problems. There are structural problems. There are problems on an individual level. But they have to be put in the right context.”
as “totally difficult” Faeser, who is responsible for sports, described the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar in the ARD magazine “Monitor”: “There are criteria that have to be adhered to, and then it would be better that it wasn’t awarded to such states.” And immediately on Friday – it was already the weekend in Qatar – the German ambassador was invited to the Foreign Ministry in Doha to receive a protest note.
Host increasingly thin-skinned
In this, the Gulf state expressed its disappointment with Faeser’s words, the state news agency QNA reported. Qatar condemn their statements in the strongest possible terms, given the otherwise “Excellent relationships” both countries had violated diplomatic norms.
Shortly before the World Cup, the hosts react increasingly thin-skinned – and more offensive. Head of State Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani recently even spoke of one “unprecedented campaign”the “never experienced a host country” have.
Schlotterbeck: “A dilemma”
The DFB has clearly divided in this area of conflict. Neuendorf will also act as the head of the delegation on political issues during the World Cup, national coach Hansi Flick and his national team will concentrate primarily on the sporting performance. But the professionals are no longer apolitical. “We all know that the World Cup doesn’t belong in Qatar. We also know that the World Cup doesn’t belong in winter, but in summer.”said defender Nico Schlottbeck on Saturday evening in the ZDF “Sportstudio”: “When the World Cup was awarded to Qatar, I was very young, I had no influence on anything, of course it’s a dilemma.”
Government in Qatar criticizes the critics
The World Cup host is regularly criticized for human rights violations. The main focus is on the situation of construction workers. Human rights organizations have been dealing with the problem, which is virulent in all Arab Gulf states, for years. In addition to construction workers, women domestic workers are particularly often forced into exploitative employment relationships. The government in Doha refers to numerous reforms and criticizes the critics. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has now moved into a second home in Qatar – also as a sign of what he says is a close connection to the Arab world.
Discussions about compensation funds are sluggish
The outcome of Faeser and Neuendorf’s talks with the FIFA President will be exciting. Neuendorf had asked the world association to set up a compensation fund for foreign workers, but the discussion is still sluggish. Team sports are not very common in the Arab country. Women from different countries in the region are taking part in a DFB project for female soccer players that the German delegation plans to visit on Tuesday. It is still unclear whether and which member of the federal government will possibly sit in the stands in Qatar during the World Cup.