The decision to award Qatar the World Cup was labelled “scandalous” by Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, making them the latest Bundesliga club to voice their disapproval of the event.
Giving the World Cup to Qatar, according to Bayer Leverkusen, was scandalous
Leverkusen issued a statement saying, “Qatar should never have been given the World Cup.” According to FIFA’s own audit reports, it was the application that was least suitable for hosting a World Cup. Seven of the eight brand-new World Cup stadiums were new construction initiatives. Qatar does not have a football culture. That is, in our opinion, a must-have qualification for a potential World Cup host.
Leverkusen’s statement also made reference to publicly publicised problems with homophobia, censorship of free speech, denial of women’s rights, and “awful working circumstances” faced by migrant workers in Qatar as they assisted the nation in preparing to host the 32-team tournament.
Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro stated that the World Cup should be accompanied with questions about the host nation’s human rights condition, equality, and freedom of expression that were disregarded when the event was awarded 12 years ago. Carro, who is on the board of the European Club Association, will go to Qatar in December to attend a board meeting and examine the problems brought up.
The club said that it will provide updates on its athletes’ performances at the World Cup. “We don’t think the players should be held accountable for Qatar winning the competition 12 years ago. They thus have our respect and our backing, according to Leverkusen.
Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hoffenheim, two rivals in the league, have previously questioned the competition. Gladbach stated that it would only provide little coverage of its own players, whilst Hoffenheim stated that it would refrain from doing so in opposition to the “human rights abuses and discrimination against gays in the dictatorial Gulf state.” In the weeks prior to the Bundesliga’s winter break, fans staged significant demonstrations against the event in German stadiums.