In a national television address, Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani called the criticism of his country an "unprecedented campaign" including "fabrication and double standards".

The head of state complained that no host of the finals had been attacked so severely.

The World Cup will take place in Qatar from November 20th to December 18th.

It will be held for the first time in winter due to the local climatic conditions.

In the coming week, a German delegation will travel to the country to take a look at the situation in the authoritarian state.

Qatar is accused of violating numerous human rights.

"In good faith, we initially considered parts of the criticism to be positive and useful in order to develop aspects that need to be developed," said the Emir.

"But we soon realized that the campaign would continue, expand, include fabrication and double standards - until it reached a level of intensity that unfortunately raises many questions about the real reasons and motives behind this campaign."

The emir left open what these alleged motives are.

The fact is that awarding the World Cup to Qatar has been criticized for years.

Initially, the focus was on the bribes that are said to have flowed in the vote for the autocratically governed country in 2010.

Then there was the environmental aspect, as the final round had to be postponed to winter due to the climate and there are big question marks over sustainability.

In recent years, the so-called "sportswashing", i.e. the organization of major sporting events and the associated opportunity to present oneself positively to the world public, the human rights situation, the situation of guest workers and the conditions for LGBT people have been the dominant topics.

Numerous human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have severely criticized the organizers, who have invested around 150 billion euros in the tournament.

Many even called for a World Cup boycott.

Human Rights Watch released a report Monday about the mistreatment of queer people by Qatari police.

Qatar denied the allegations.

Regarding the allegation that the detainees were only released if they had undergone so-called conversational therapy, it said: "The Qatari government does not operate or license 'conversion centres'".

The government official did not comment on specific allegations of abuse.

DFB wants to stand up for injured and deceased workers

The head of the German Football Association (DFB) is also critical of the final round, despite the progress in the emirate attested by experts.

On Monday, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf will travel to Qatar together with Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) to get an idea of ​​the situation.

The agenda for the visit has already been set.

Among other things, it should include a conversation with the controversial FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The world association expects a profit of around 6.5 billion euros from the first final round in an Arab country, Infantino prophesied "the best World Cup of all time".

"We continue to advocate a FIFA compensation fund for the families of deceased or injured workers," Neuendorf told the editorial network Germany.

"I would like to speak to Gianni Infantino about this again in Doha." The DFB President also announced an "exchange" with Qatar's association boss Sheikh Hamad bin Chalifa Al Thani and the government.

"Among other things, the demand for a center for migrant workers must be in the foreground".

According to the organizing committee, three people have died in accidents during working hours in recent years.

FIFA confirmed this to the dpa.

A further 37 deaths were registered, but these workers did not die while working on the construction sites, which is why the organizing committee classifies these cases as "non-work-related deaths" - deaths that are not directly related to work.

British media reports have reported thousands of dead workers in Qatar over the past few years since the World Cup was awarded in December 2010.

Faeser also wants to address the sensitive issues during the trip, which Luise Amtsberg (Greens) will take part in as the federal government's human rights commissioner.

"The focus is on the human rights issues that will be discussed around the tournament, such as the protection of queer people from discrimination and persecution and the responsibility for migrant workers who built the World Cup stadiums," said the Interior Ministry.

It is also important for Faeser to meet representatives of civil society "to get a first-hand impression of their situation".