Philipp Lahm says it was ‘mistake’ to Award World Cup to Qatar

Seven days earlier than the World Cup is because of begin in Qatar, former Germany captain Philipp Lahm says it was “a mistake” to award the match to the Gulf Arab nation.

Lahm, who’s head of Germany’s organizing committee for the 2024 European Championship, wrote Sunday in a column for Zeit Online that the World Cup “does not belong” in Qatar and he criticized the human rights scenario within the nation.

Lahm acknowledged some progress “but homosexuals are still being criminalized, women do not have the same rights as men, and there are restrictions on freedom of the press and expression.” He added that situations for migrant employees are “devastating.” Lahm, who gained the World Cup with Germany in 2014, slammed FIFA for awarding the match to Qatar in 2010 when he says there have been higher candidates out there.

“FIFA has damaged soccer and its credibility as a western organization,” stated Lahm, who additionally questioned Qatar’s enthusiasm for the game. “Soccer isn’t a popular sport in Qatar and there’s practically no opportunity for girls to play,” stated Lahm, who stated he gained’t be attending the 32-team competitors that runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18.
Lahm’s feedback come after widespread protests within the Bundesliga and Germany’s second division from followers who’ve been voicing the identical considerations.

His column additionally comes after former FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized the choice to award the match to Qatar. The 86-year-old Blatter cited a gathering between former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and then-UEFA President Michel Platini for swaying key votes. “It’s a country that’s too small,” Blatter stated of Qatar, the smallest host by dimension for the reason that 1954 match in Switzerland. “Football and the World Cup are too big for that.”