The World Cup in Qatar: Will we see it or boycott it?

2022-11-20 16:24:00Pikëpamje SHKRUAR NGA PASCAL JOCHEM
The World Cup in Qatar: Will we see it or boycott it?

The most discussed World Cup in history started today in Qatar. A dilemma for many fans, especially in Germany: watch or boycott?

The question of the day: "What will you do with the World Cup in Qatar?" Will you turn on the TV or ignore it? Surrender or protest? This is an issue that divides families, friends, colleagues. Should the 2022 World Cup be watched, with all the many controversies surrounding the championship? Or does morality not allow us? Does morality have a place here?

Heavy criticism of Bundesliga stadiums

In German stadiums, the opinion seems to be unanimous: the World Cup in Qatar will be rejected, with banners and posters, it has been the fans themselves who have called for a boycott in recent weeks. They condemn the deaths of migrant workers and homophobic legislation in the host country. Rightfully so.

But Qatar, for many critics, also symbolizes the dangerous path that modern football follows. Sheiks and cleaning up the image through sports events, dubious investors, corruption and selling the spirit of sport - Qatar is a symbol of all these. All of these can be rejected. I understand that.

But to simply ignore football, you're saying the biggest sporting event in the world isn't happening? Even before the 2018 World Cup in Russia, there was a lot of media hype, but no calls for a boycott. The Russian air force dropped bombs on Syria and guest workers from North Korea were systematically used to build stadiums. "Slaves of St. Petersburg", they were called at that time in the media.

Hasn't a red line been crossed since then? What would a television boycott bring now? This can be decided by each bar, each cafe, each fan, and the low audience figures also affect the World Football Federation (FIFA). But if Germany and perhaps Northern Europe bring low numbers, they are compensated by other regions of the world. FIFA has been looking for new markets for some time now, and it can't be blamed too much for that.

The Arab world deserves a World Cup - but where?

The World Cup should have been held in an Arab country a long time ago. It has taken FIFA over 90 years to achieve this. Criticisms about the "Winter World Cup" and the lack of football tradition in Qatar are Eurocentric. The region deserves a World Cup.

Did it have to be Qatar? I am not happy with this choice either. But I will turn on the TV and follow the World Cup. And I know right now, it's going to be painful. Pre-joy is very low. The first reports of "fake fans" bought to pretend to celebrate in Doha have left me speechless. Equally unbearable will be the further messages for peace that FIFA president Gianni Infantino is expected to declare.

But the memories of my childhood remained in my mind. In 1994, as a boy, I was sitting in a dark room in front of the then transistor television. When the Nigerians played so well and the Brazilian Bebeto celebrated his goals by waving his arms like he was rocking a baby.

It is these images that are deeply etched in my memory. Every fan has their own story, such experiences make the World Cup magical. And in the end we turn on the TV, because we are addicted to the game.

It must be seen and reflected

This time it will be a special balancing act: how far will the African champion, Senegal, go, how will Messi use his last chance, how will the German national team of coach Hansi Flick play? All of these sports stories are worth telling, but I'm actually much more interested in what's happening off the field.

Will FIFA's stagings come to light, which has already called the tournament "the best World Cup of all time". Will there be a compensation fund for guest workers due to international pressure? What do Qatari citizens think about press freedom? (The initial signs are not very promising.) How do fans in South America and Asia view this World Cup and the issue of human rights that is so important to the West? Will the DFB team put on an act to "represent our values", as Manuel Neuer warned? Is the Emirate really doing something with this "chance", as Bastian Schweinsteiger assessed in an interview with DW? And how do all public figures who advertise Qatar for a hefty fee, such as Qatar's ambassador, react to criticism?

I want to know, ask and discuss all this. With friends, colleagues, family. All these things deserve our attention. And this is the reason why for me there is no question of not following the World Cup./ DW

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