Response to RTL documentation
Dealing with homosexuals: Bierhoff criticizes World Cup award to Qatar
“I think everyone can only decide for themselves whether they see it as a risk for themselves,” says Oliver Bierhoff about homosexuals traveling to Qatar for the World Cup
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Oliver Bierhoff was affected by the research for an RTL documentary about homosexuals in the World Cup country Qatar and criticized the awarding of the tournament to the Arab country. He does not want to give a travel recommendation for gays to the World Cup.
DFB director Oliver Bierhoff has apparently come to a different view of awarding the World Cup to Qatar. “How could Fifa give the award to this country?” asked the 54-year-old in an interview with RTL/ntv. In the report “Red card instead of rainbow – homosexuals in Qatar”, the television station RTL reported on how sexual minorities were treated in the desert emirate and confronted Bierhoff with it.
“On the one hand, I always thought at the beginning: Who owns the football? Does it only belong to Europe, does it only belong to South America – or does it belong to the whole world?” said Bierhoff. So initially, the idea of playing football around the world still seemed right to him. But “the world has also changed,” said Bierhoff. “The requirements, the demands are different, including the fans, the people. In that respect, you have to take that into account,” he added.
Oliver Bierhoff does not give any travel advice for queer people
When awarding the prize, you “simply have to criticize that in the first point perhaps attention was only paid to stadiums or other points, or of course commerce and not to these aspects, such as human rights or other social issues,” said Bierhoff. The next awards should only be made to countries “where things like this don’t happen”.
The DFB director did not want to make a travel recommendation for members of the LGBTIQ+ community: “It’s difficult. I don’t know. I think everyone can only decide for themselves whether they see it as a risk for themselves,” said Bierhoff : He hopes that there will be “a certain bell” for the tournament “for a certain period of time” that will guarantee security.
Emir: Homosexual people should respect local culture
Homosexual acts are criminalized in Qatar. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani recently asserted that “all people are welcome” to the World Cup in winter, although visitors must respect the national culture. Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has left open whether he wants to wear a rainbow-style captain’s armband at the World Cup.