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Bucharest (AP) - Joachim Löw does not consider a boycott of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to make sense.
Meanwhile, the national coach vehemently defends his national team against accusations of being instrumentalized in the ongoing debate about the human rights situation in the controversial emirate.
«A boycott doesn't help anyone.
With such a tournament you can generate attention all over the world and bring things in the right direction, ”said Löw before the qualifying game in Romania on Sunday (8.45pm / RTL).
Leading player Joshua Kimmich also considers renouncing the tournament to be counterproductive, but emphasizes the socio-political responsibility of football professionals.
"In general, I am of the opinion that we are ten years too late for a boycott," said the Bayern player, referring to the controversial award of the tournament by the world association FIFA in December 2010. "In football you have the chance to Point things out.
I not only see our duty as ours, but also other parts of the population, ”said the 26-year-old.
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Löw has no understanding for criticism of an Internet video by the German Football Association in which the national players can be seen preparing for their human rights campaign before the Iceland game on Thursday in Duisburg.
If someone thinks that players like Manuel Neuer or Ilkay Gündogan “put themselves in front of a cart for marketing purposes”, it is “incredibly huge,” said Löw.
The current generation of national players basically thinks beyond football, assured the 61-year-old.
"Because I know that our players live these values for everything that is off the field and happens in the world," emphasized the national coach.
After the mostly positive reactions to the game in Duisburg on Thursday evening, the DFB had to take criticism for the subsequent publication of a 63-second video on Friday evening under the title “Making of .. #HUMANRIGHTS”.
The accusation: The good basic idea of the campaign will be watered down and damaged by a marketing video, said several users on the Internet.
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The clip shows how Neuer, Gündogan and Leroy Sané, among others, paint their black T-shirts with the letters in white.
The eleven players then presented these as “Human Rights” before kick-off for the 3-0 win against Iceland.
In doing so, the team also aimed at working conditions in Qatar.
Löw emphasized that the action was the result of "the players' own initiative" and not, as claimed, at the behest of the association.
"Not everything that happens at the DFB or the national team is negative," said the national coach.
In the recent past, the DFB had been attacked several times in public, especially for high-profile campaigns.
This time, double standards were often assumed, as, for example, the Bayern players advertise the Qatar airline at their club and regularly hold their training camp there.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210327-99-996066 / 6
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