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Qatar 2022: Germans mostly say they will shun the World Cup
Audio 01:25
"Boycott Qatar 2022," reads this banner unfurled before the Bundesliga match between Freiburg and FC Union Berlin at the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg im Breisgau, Sunday, November 13, 2022. AP - Tom Weller
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Some 70% of Germans do not watch World Cup matches.
Between jet lag and political boycott, the reasons that even push supporters to want to stay away from their small screen are numerous.
Dozens of bars have already announced that they will not be broadcasting the matches.
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With our correspondent in Berlin,
Nathalie Versieux
In Germany, even fan clubs, such as those of Bayern or Borussia Dortmund, call on their fans to stay away from matches.
Ill-treatment of the immigrant workers who built the stadiums, discrimination against women and the LGBT community... 57% of those who will boycott the matches raise the issue of human rights to justify their choice.
In his bar in Berlin, Heiko will not broadcast the meetings.
Is this a good decision, from a business point of view?
Maybe not.
But at least we can go to the bar with a clear conscience.
Retransmit the matches with a funny ball in the stomach?
No, really, I prefer not.
Barbara, a customer yet a football fan, approves.
For her too, there is no question of endorsing the World Cup in Qatar.
Even if Qatar had great stadiums built by super well paid workers... no, it's not possible.
Anyway, the World Cup in the middle of winter, it's completely stupid!
Only four million Germans watched last week's match between Germany and Oman, one of the test matches ahead of the tournament.
Or 19% of the total audience, a result much lower than Mannschaft's usual audience ratings.
This year, the Germans will prefer Christmas markets to stadiums.
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