The director of the German Football Association, Oliver Bierhoff, considered that “the treatment of homosexuals (in Qatar) is totally unacceptable,” in an interview with the “Funke” media group to be published on Saturday, according to AFP.
Bierhoff, the 1996 European Cup winner who will be manager of the German national team in the next World Cup, said that the law of the host country for the 2022 World Cup (from November 21 to December 18) that criminalizes homosexuality “does not in any way correspond to my convictions.”
“What criteria does FIFA actually use to award the World Cup?” Bierhoff asked in the interview, which was conducted by a few German regional newspapers, adding that “the awarding of hosting the tournament is the most powerful weapon to press for fundamental changes.”
But those changes, according to him, “must happen before naming the state, not following, otherwise we no longer have any means of pressure.”
And the German national team, which wants to be a showcase for the values of modern Germany, away from football, will continue to express itself, according to the 54-year-old former player, saying, “I think it is generally good that we continue to talk regarding these issues outside the sporting field, in order to raise awareness.”
FIFA warned last month that it would cancel World Cup contracts with any hotel in Qatar or any service provider that discriminates once morest homosexuals.
The move came following investigations revealed that three hotels on the list, which FIFA granted approval to host visitors in the World Cup, did not allow same-sex couples to receive couples.
The investigation was conducted by journalists working with media groups in Sweden and Denmark, according to the newspaper.The Telegraph“. +
Last March, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated, “Everyone will see that everyone is welcome here in Qatar, even if we talk regarding LGBT people.”
The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy at the World Cup said that Qatar is a “conservative country” but “is committed to providing a comprehensive FIFA World Cup experience that is welcoming, safe and accessible to all.” It added that it will take action once morest hotels that do not comply with the regulations.
In April, Major General Abdulaziz al-Ansari, head of the Qatar World Cup Security and Safety Operations Committee, said in an interview with The Associated Press that rainbow flags might be withdrawn from fans to protect them from being attacked for promoting gay rights.
Al-Ansari insisted that LGBT couples in Qatar would be welcome to attend the World Cup matches, even though same-sex relations remain criminalized in the conservative Gulf state.
He stressed that “if (a fan) raised the gay flag, and I pulled it from him, it would not be because I wanted to… but to protect him.”
He added, “It is not up to me, someone else around him may attack him.. I cannot guarantee the behavior of all people.. We cannot change the laws, we cannot change the religion for 28 days for the World Cup.”
