Thu, Nov 17, 2022 page16

• German soccer bars boycott Qatar

  • AFP, BERLIN
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  When Germany launch their FIFA World Cup campaign against Japan in Qatar next week, the projector screens at Berlin’s Fargo soccer bar are to be rolled up.

  The bar, which tailors its regular opening hours to the soccer schedule, is not even going to open its doors until an hour after the match is completed.

  “We do not agree that the World Cup should take place in a country where the purpose is obviously sports washing and to make the country look different internationally than it actually is,” Fargo spokesman Joschik Pech said.

  

  Fargo soccer bar spokesman Joschik Pech poses next to a “Boycott Qatar 2022” banner in the Fargo bar in Berlin on Thursday last week.

  Photo: AFP

  “We would not feel good having fun watching the games when we know [it’s a place] where [a person’s] sexuality cannot be lived out freely,” he said.

  Fargo is one of dozens of bars across Germany, including several in the capital of Berlin, which have pledged to boycott what is normally a showpiece event in the soccer-mad nation. Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community has come under the spotlight as it prepares to host the tournament.

  Qatar has angrily rebuffed most of the attacks.

  Several other sites, including Berlin’s famous “Fan Mile” against the backdrop of the Brandenburg Gate, have canceled public viewing events, officially due to concerns about the weather, energy costs and COVID-19 infections.

  Members of Germany’s activist soccer fan culture have been particularly outspoken about the event, with supporters of several high-profile clubs, including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin and St Pauli, calling for boycotts.

  Not wanting to simply ignore the month-long tournament, Fargo plans to hold several events parallel to World Cup matches, including human rights lectures, and group trips to amateur and women’s soccer matches.

  “We expect that there will be a loss of sales and of course a loss in profits, but we don’t think it will be so bad that the pub will go bankrupt,” Pech said. “We are also trying to get people to the bar with our alternative program, which I think will attract some people.”

  Fargo’s decision is not an unpopular one among customers.

  Sebastian, 24, a self-described “active football fan” said that he supported the boycott and would do the same.

  “I would like to watch it, but I won’t,” he said, adding that “up until this point I’ve watched every World Cup played in my lifetime.”

  “When people freezing in their own apartments because of the energy policy situation here in Germany, watching a tournament played in artificially cooled stadiums, that’s unacceptable,” he said.

  Another Fargo customer, Stella, said she would also boycott the event for the first time, saying she hoped fan sentiment would force people to think more critically about World Cup hosts.

  However, the 22-year-old said she remembered previous World Cups fondly and knew she might be tempted to change her mind.

  “I can imagine that if Germany somehow made it to the final and my friends called me and said: ‘Hey Stella, we’re going to go and watch it,’ I might find it difficult to say no,” she said.

  “But I don’t expect we will play well at all, so I don’t think it will be a problem,” she said, laughing.

  Some bars such as Berlin’s Tante Kaethe have decided to show the games, but want to use the heightened exposure created by the tournament to shed light on human rights abuses, for instance by hanging a photograph exhibition showing the poor living conditions of Nepalese guest workers who helped build Qatar’s stadiums.

  Meanwhile Denmark, a vocal critic of Qatar, has been told to leave its pro-human rights jerseys at home, and now its government and royal family have pledged to stay home, too.

  The team on Tuesday flew to the emirate.

  FIFA last week denied Denmark’s request to wear training shirts emblazoned with a human rights message, and over the weekend, the Danish government announced that no ministers nor the Danish ambassador would attend the opening ceremony or any matches.

  The official reason given was that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is heading an interim government following her Nov. 1 election victory and is busy with negotiations to form a new Cabinet.

  Newspaper Berlingske said the explanation was a convenient excuse for the government, noting that “the prime minister was saved in the 11th hour by the long negotiations. Phew.”

  The royal family has also passed on the event, with Danish Crown Prince Frederik, a staunch fan of the Red and Whites, announcing that he would align himself with the government’s decision and stay home.

  “The national team has my full support, wherever they play in the world. This time I’m looking forward to cheering on the team from home,” he said on Instagram on Monday after meeting with the Danish players.
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