FOOTBALL - FASER: No decision yet on World Cup tour to Qatar

HAMBURG (DPA) – The federal government has yet to decide whether high-ranking political representatives will tour the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Fesser (SPD) said this at the end of a two-day conference of state sports ministers in Hamburg.

The World Cup host has been criticized for years because of the human rights situation and the conditions of foreign workers.

In March, Federal Economics Minister Robert Hebek (Greens) traveled to the emirate for economic talks. Among other things, the establishment of a long-term energy partnership to make Germany less dependent on Russian gas was discussed.

“I think you have to judge each event individually,” Fasser said. “We also have a little support from Qatar, because it helps with the question of how to evacuate former local workers from Afghanistan. In this regard, we also have a form of – I would call it cautious – cooperation there.”

The law regarding working conditions and minimum wages has already been changed in Qatar. “Now you have to check whether this is happening in reality as well. I consider such procedures necessary,” the minister said.

Countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia diplomatically boycotted the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February because of the human rights situation in China. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Foreign Minister Annalena Barbock (Greens) and Nancy Feser also did not travel to China. Neither the German government nor the Japanese government wanted to talk about the boycott.

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