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Hans-Dieter Flick stated that he was uncomfortable with the World Cup in Qatar, believing that there should be stricter criteria for potential hosts for global sporting events.
The German national team coach noted the public’s feelings and added that although prioritizing the bottom line for global sports bodies has a price, they can protect themselves against it with a more discerning framework.
“It can not always be about the money,” Flick told German magazine Stern. “We recently had a World Cup in Russia, the Winter Olympics in Beijing and the World Cup in Qatar in November – and there was always a lot of criticism.
“That’s why I say – we need to think about the country where we have to hold sporting events before, and define even more binding criteria for this.”
As for whether Germany will boycott from a World Cup in Qatar where Die Mannschaft had already qualified, Flick questioned the advantage.
“It would not help the people of Qatar,” he said. “We want to be involved and then send out signals. I think that is more effective.
“For many athletes, the World Cup is a career highlight. It would be taken from them with a boycott.
From a symbolic point of view, however, the 57-year-old believes that armed conflict in Ukraine provides sufficient reason for Russia to be excluded from sports competitions.
“I think such measures are right as a symbol, but I do not think Putin will be impressed by this,” Flick said.
“So far, even financial sanctions have not been able to stop him. I feel sorry for the athletes who are now being excluded from the competitions. Because it is Putin’s war, not their war, but there is no other option at the moment. “
In the upcoming international window, Germany will host Israel on Saturday before traveling to Amsterdam to face the Netherlands next Tuesday.
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