Former Germany captain Philipp Lahm claims that awarding the World Cup to the Gulf Arab nation was “a mistake” seven days before it is scheduled to begin in Qatar.
The decision to award the World Cup to Qatar, according to Philipp Lahm, was a mistake
In a post published on Sunday for Zeit Online, Lahm, who is in charge of planning Germany’s bid to host the 2024 European Championship, lambasted Qatar’s human rights record and said that the World Cup “does not belong” there.
Although Lahm recognised some improvements, she said that “homosexuals continue to face criminal prosecution, women still do not have the same rights as males, and there are still limitations on press and speech freedom.” He continued, calling the circumstances for migrant labourers “devastating.”
The 2010 World Cup was given to Qatar, but Lahm, who won the World Cup with Germany in 2014, criticised FIFA for doing so since he said that there were better possibilities.
Lahm, who also questioned Qatar’s passion for the sport, claimed that FIFA had destroyed soccer and its reputation as a western institution. Lahm, who said he wouldn’t be attending the 32-team competition that takes place from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, claimed that soccer isn’t a popular sport in Qatar and that ladies have very little opportunity to participate.
Following numerous demonstrations by supporters who have been raising the same issues in the Bundesliga and Germany’s second division, Lahm made his remarks.
Additionally, Sepp Blatter, a former FIFA president, questioned the selection of Qatar as the host nation in a column prior to the publication of his own. UEFA President Michel Platini and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy met, according to 86-year-old Blatter, which influenced many crucial votes. Qatar is the smallest host nation since the 1954 Swiss competition, according to Blatter, and it is a “too tiny a country.” The World Cup and the game of football are too huge for that.