DFB President Bernd Neuendorf described the upcoming tournament in Qatar as “not necessarily the best World Cup of all time, but definitely the most controversial”. There are several reasons why it is controversial. Human rights violations and climatic conditions, for example, but also the situation of queer people. Because homosexuality is punished in the Gulf state with up to seven years in prison, theoretically even the death penalty would be possible.
At a meeting with queer groups, Neuendorf has now promised to advance their demand for action and legal certainty for travelers to the World Cup at the world association Fifa. He and Thomas Hitzlsberger exchanged ideas with representatives of queer organizations such as the German Society for Transidentity and Intersexuality e.V. (dgti), Discover Football and the Lesbian and Gay Association of Germany (LSVD).
According to Neuendorf, the DFB has repeatedly created visibility for the topic of sexual and gender diversity, “most recently by liberalizing the right to play for trans* and intersex people and by participating in Christopher Street Day in Frankfurt”. The background is a new regulation according to which trans and intersex people can decide for themselves which team they want to play in. In addition, the contact point for gender and sexual diversity has been extended until the end of 2024.
Now the topic is apparently also to be addressed in relation to the World Cup. At a press conference with Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani announced that everyone was welcome – but added: “But we expect and want people to respect our culture.”
An investigation in which two journalists had pretended to be a gay couple revealed that several World Cup hotels turned down requests from queer guests. One responded that this was not possible “according to our hotel policy” and another that it was against state policy to “put on make-up and dress homosexually”. Professional soccer players like Australian Josh Cavallo, who last year was the first active top-flight professional to speak publicly about being gay, have therefore already expressed fears about traveling to the World Cup.
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch also reported that the Qatari government is monitoring and arresting queer people for their online activities. Even in the World Cup stadiums, where rainbow flags are supposed to be allowed during the tournament, queer Qataris are not safe.
Because the Gulf state is also expanding its surveillance options there, so that queer people can still be tracked after the end of the tournament. Nas Mohamed, who was the first Qatari to publicly say he was gay, said in an interview with the Tagesspiegel: “Even if they allowed the flags, that would be pure hypocrisy. We queer Qataris are still mistreated.”
At the meeting with Neuendorf, Julia Monro from the dgti drew attention to the dangers for trans people: “If a homosexual couple walks the streets, they could theoretically avoid holding hands in public.” As a trans woman it is different. “You carry your identity openly with you at all times. Trans people are almost permanently out.” Conflict situations could already arise when entering the country at the airport or when entering the stadium.
“As long as there are such demands that the culture of the country should be respected, nothing will change.” If you say you have to respect the culture in the country, everything is being called into question again.” It remains to be seen to what extent the DFB can still put pressure on Fifa a few months before the start of the World Cup.
