Monday 29 March 2021
Human Rights & Credibility
A video that massively damages the DFB
A comment by Tobias Nordmann
The German footballers use their reach and send political signals. In the second game on the way to the World Cup in Qatar, the team made a statement for human rights. In doing so, the association makes a mistake – with serious consequences.
“The idea came from the team,” said Manuel Neuer late on Sunday evening. One would really like to believe this sentence. One would really like to believe that Germany’s best footballers recognize and use their reach to position themselves politically. For example, like now in Bucharest again for the observance of human rights. In Qatar. Where Germany’s best footballers want to play for the World Cup title in the coming year. Where human rights are regularly ignored. Where these ignorant violations have cost countless lives. And will cost.
The conditions for guest workers in particular have been viewed critically for years by human rights organizations that campaign for human rights. According to a report by the English newspaper “Guardian”, at least 6,500 people are said to have died in the course of the World Cup construction work. Qatar’s government press office said in response that the death rate was in a range that would be expected for its size and demographic composition. Fifa, which made this “fall of the world football”, as “Spiegel” just called it, possible ten years ago – and since then has reacted unreasonably to any criticism – even vehemently puts the figures into perspective. On construction sites directly related to the World Cup, there have been three deaths since 2014 and 34 more that could not be directly explained with the work. Despite some improvements in the human rights situation, there are still (too) many misconducts and violations.
On Sunday evening, the national team sent a second message in the second game on the way to this highly controversial tournament in this unjust state. This time, however, they needed a somewhat extensive explanation (see below), not like they did against Iceland, when it became unmistakably clear what the German team was (apparently) about. “HUMAN RIGHTS” was written on shirts that they had designed themselves – one did not expect such a clear attitude from the association. And also not from the players, most of whom had previously hidden from clear messages or had evaded.
But the belief in the attitude of the players, in the desire to position themselves clearly, as the Norwegians had previously done to Erling Haaland and received a lot of encouragement, was massively shaken after the “HUMAN RIGHTS” campaign. And in a way that testifies to an unbelievable naivety or (and) an almost unbearable need for recognition. Because a staged video was published on the social media accounts “The Team”, which looked more like a marketing campaign than a desire for an opinion. It is a video that destroys the belief in the proactive nature of the players for the action. Just a little real talk on the subject, football fans couldn’t have expected more from the kickers. For example, a simple mobile phone video by some DFB professionals who explain without much fuss that they are not political experts, but of course deal with the topic and view human rights violations very critically. Finished. But now it once again looked as if the image was more important to the DFB than the idea.
The criticism of the video was therefore immense, as was the reaction of national coach Joachim Löw. “Not everything that happens at the DFB can be viewed negatively,” he grumbled. This may be. But as long as every (good) action is accompanied by an image campaign, there is no stable foundation for a new credibility. The second action on Sunday evening in the temple of outrage on Twitter was sometimes mercilessly and with plenty of irony. And not just because of the (too) complicated message. The footballers had turned their jerseys with the numbers and names facing forward – it should be a reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations.
Well, as bitter and deserved as the echo of the staging was for the DFB, this echo offers the opportunity to emphasize an honest concern, because the topic is finally set. Even if in a way that initially harmed the association. This loss of credibility can only be repaired over a long period of time. If the DFB proves this condition, he also allows unpleasant debates – such as that of a possible boycott – he may also get recognition for his actions, which other nations such as Norway and the Netherlands have worked out, which attack Qatar directly for the misconduct. Norway’s national coach Stale Solbakken said it was a matter of “putting pressure on FIFA to be even more direct, even stricter with the authorities in Qatar in order to impose stricter conditions.”
The world association has so far been unaffected by the actions. But with massive pressure from the largest individual sports association in the world, namely the DFB, combined with a boycott scenario, the potential for strength would increase. Even if you don’t have to fool yourself: FIFA and its boss Gianni Infantino have always been absolutely immune to public opinion. Only when it comes to the sponsors, to the funds, does a power emerge that also alarms the world association. This lever has to be grasped and operated. From the officials, not the players. They would do well to scare away camera teams in their actions. Or simply pull out the cell phone yourself and post a shaky image on the network. That would at least be more authentic.
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