Qatar's ambassador to Germany, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, has criticized SPD chairman Lars Klingbeil's announcement that he will also be staying away from the World Cup in Qatar after the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Klingbeil's statements would "serve political and personal agendas", the "instrumentalization of the World Cup for personal or political motives" was unacceptable.
Saud Al Thani's criticism is directed against the double standards and the one-sided view that some people in positions of responsibility would pursue through the politicization of the World Cup.
In an interview with the FAZ, Klingbeil said that he fundamentally considered it wrong to award the two major sporting events to Qatar and China: "But now that they are taking place there, you have to make sure that you send the appropriate messages." With a view to the World Cup finals from November 21 to December 18, one must point out the situation of women in Qatar and the working conditions around the World Cup.
Klingbeil described the handling of the decision for the World Cup in Qatar as a "balancing act" like the Olympic Winter Games currently taking place in Beijing.
"If the events take place there, we have to point out these abuses in order to increase the pressure on the governments," said Klingbeil, who also expects a stance from the German Football Association.
"The DFB is a political player" and cannot "just go to Qatar to play football there."
Saud Al Thani called on the SPD leader to refer to "reliable sources of information before making statements that do not reflect reality." Reports from international organizations document the progress that Qatar has made in recent years.
Some other countries would have needed decades for this.
In addition to Klingbeil, Saud Al Thani's criticism was also directed at the spokesman for human rights and humanitarian aid for the SPD parliamentary group, Frank Schwabe.
He had described the World Cup on "Deutschlandfunk" as "absurd from beginning to end" and brought up a boycott.