'My hope for improvement is limited' - Thomas Hitzlsperger does not envision change in Qatar once World Cup concludes
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ByEurosport
Published 15/11/2021 at 13:56 GMT
Thomas Hitzlsperger does not think lives will change in Qatar off the back of the country hosting the 2022 World Cup. Former Germany international Hitzlsperger tells Kicker: "I don't believe in sustainable improvement through the World Cup alone. Russia also didn't become more democratic and liberal after the last World Cup."
Thomas Hitzlsberger
Image credit: Getty Images
Thomas Hitzlsperger does not believe Qatar staging the 2022 World Cup will make the nation more liberal and democratic.
Homosexuality is banned in Qatar and Amnesty International report that the Arab nation has failed to investigate the deaths of thousands of migrant workers in the past decade.
That is on top of numerous reports, since it was announced the World Cup would be hosted in Qatar in 2010, that highlight the inhumane conditions migrant workers work in.
Hitzlsperger, arguably the most prominent ex-footballer to come out as homosexual, does not believe Qatar's human rights record, attitudes towards homosexuality and gender equality will improve once they host the World Cup next year.
"My hope for improvement is limited," he said.
"It won't be difficult for FIFA to broadcast four weeks' worth of pictures that give the impression of progress without anything fundamentally changing in the country in the coming years.
"I don't believe in sustainable improvement through the World Cup alone. Russia also didn't come more democratic and liberal after the last World Cup.
Let's just be brutally honest about it: The Arab world is an important market with powerful sponsors. They made the best bid, so we'll play there.
The former Aston Villa midfielder and ex-Germany international, who is now a sporting director at Stuttgart, has credited Qatar’s World Cup organising committee for at least permitting human rights demonstrations.
"That's welcome, because such symbols always trigger discussions," he added.
"If the World Cup takes place in Qatar, FIFA must face up to these discussions. So must Qatar."
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