BERLIN, Oct. 22 (dpa/EP) –
The president of the German Football Federation (DFB), Bernd Neuendorf, announced that he will speak about human rights during his next trip to Qatar, which he will undertake at the end of October together with the German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser.
“The position of the DFB is clear: we continue to strongly support a FIFA compensation fund for the families of workers killed or injured (during the construction of the stadiums in Qatar),” Neuendorf told the RND media network.
Faeser and his delegation, which includes the DFB president, are scheduled to pay a two-day visit to Qatar from Oct. 31. The World Cup begins on November 20 and will last until December 18.
“The trip will focus on the human rights issues that will be discussed around the tournament, such as the protection of queer people from discrimination and persecution, as well as responsibility towards the migrant workers who built the Copa del Rey stadiums. World,” said a spokeswoman for the interior minister.
Neuendorf said he wants to speak again with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in Doha. During the exchange with Sheikh Hamad bin Chalifa Al Thani, president of the Qatar Football Association, and with the Qatari government, he said, the demand for a center for migrant workers, among other things, will be present in the foreground.
The DFB president noted that the federation recently held regular exchanges with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Neuendorf said the views of these organizations were incorporated into talks with FIFA and Qatari soccer representatives and will play a role in the joint trip with Faeser.