Germany blasts FIFA for restricting human rights protests

German football federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf criticized FIFA for its attempts to restrict teams' political activities when it comes to human rights at the World Cup in Qatar.

He was also prepared to put money where his mouth is at saying he is ready to be fined when German captain Manuel Neuer wears the multi-colored One Love armband during the World Cup. Neuer and several other European team captains plan to wear a multicolored One Love armband at the tournament to support diversity.

"Personally, I would be quite prepared to accept a fine," Neuendorf said in Qatar on Friday. "This is not a political statement, but a statement for human rights," he added.

Neuendorf was particularly vocal about FIFA president Gianni Infantino's letter two weeks ago urging teams to "focus on the football'' and leave political issues aside.

"That the topic of human rights should now no longer play a role, that we are now concentrating here on football only, that irritated us to a certain extent and disturbed us,'' Neuendorf said.

FIFA chief accuses critics of Qatar of hypocrisy

In a seperate event on Saturday Infantino accused critics of Qatar's treatment of migrant workers and LGBTQ rights of hypocrisy.

"I am European. For what we have been doing for 3,000 years around the world, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years before giving moral lessons," he said.

The FIFA president spoke for almost an hour in defense of the tournament and Qatar on Saturday saying he has difficulty understanding the criticisms.

"This one-sided moral lesson is just hypocrisy," he said.

He opened his monologue saying: "Today I have strong feelings. Today I feel Qatari, I feel Arab, I feel African, I feel gay, I feel disabled, I feel a migrant worker." 

His statement was immediately criticized on social media, with many pointing out that if he was indeed gay, he would not be able to openly say that in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal under law.

Germany wont support FIFA president

On Friday, Neuendorf said Germany decided not to back Infantino's re-election next year as a result of the soccer body's handling of human rights issues at World Cup hosts Qatar and its failure to take a stand on Iran.

FIFA last week had rejected a request by the Danish Football Association to train at the World Cup in shirts with the words "human rights for all" on them.

"Such a slogan is not a political decision you can choose to take. It is about human rights and they are universal and binding around the world," Neuendorf said.

He said while FIFA was quick to ban the Danish request it remained silent amid ongoing protests in Iran.

"The Iran team has made their statements which made it clear they distance themselves from the regime. That's a good signal. FIFA did not position itself. It positioned itself in the Denmark case but not Iran. Don't just ban the Denmark shirt. Take a position on Iran," he said.

Neuendorf didn't rule out further actions from the German players during the tournament.

Germany's football team flew to the tournament from aboard national carrier Lufthansa, in a plane emblazoned with the slogan "Diversity Wins," which could be seen as a reaffirmation of German values in light of the controversy in Qatar.

Last year, Germany's players posed in 2021 for a group photo with the words "Human rights" spelled out on their T-shirts, prior to a Qatar World Cup qualification match versus Iceland.

Beer ban and armbands plan questioned  

Meanwhile, DFB director Oliver Bierhoff reacted with surprise to the alternative armbands with social messages presented by FIFA ahead of the tournament.

A day before the opening ceremony, FIFA said it partnered with United Nations agencies to run social campaigns during World Cup and messaging opportunities will be provided to the teams also via the captains' armbands.

"I will see how this develops and we will discuss with the other nations from Europe. We expect to be allowed to wear the (One Love) armband," he said.

He also questioned the last-minute ban on the sale of alcohol at stadiums.

"This (beer) is a part of the tournament but I cannot really understand the decision and the timing because there was enough time to take such a decision earlier," he said, adding it created unease. 

Infantino justified the decision earlier saying it was understood by its beer sponsor Budweiser and its parent company AB InBev.

He said the rules banning beer in stadiums applied in European countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Scotland.

"Here it seems to become a big thing because it is a Muslim country," he said.

Germany will play Japan in their first match on November 23 in Qatar.

lo/jcg (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)