Qatar abuses sports

The World Cup kicks off in Qatar in less than three weeks. A World Cup in a country that violates human rights. With play in the middle of the European winter. So far there has been no euphoria in this country. SP National councilor Matthias Aebischer (55), top sports parliamentarian in the Bundespaleis, observes critically. The Bern native is chairman of the parliamentary group Sport and plays in the FC National Council.

Blick: Mr Aebischer, as a football fan are you already looking forward to the start of the World Cup in Qatar?
Matthias Aebischer: A World Cup is actually a highlight for me. But this time the expectation is limited. Reveling in the glamor of the games with Qatar, a country that has no football culture, where it is far too hot for players and spectators and which, thanks in part to corruption, got the offer. Added to this is the unacceptable human rights situation. The whole thing is not in the spirit of sports. Wrong decision.

Are you going to boycott the World Cup and turn off the TV?
I understand anyone who doesn’t go to this World Cup. But the perfidious thing is that a boycott would punish the sport and the players. I am a fan of our national team and will watch their matches. But like many other fans, I will follow the World Cup closely with the handbrake. I understand the towns and pubs that do without an audience. Or if you don’t collect Panini images. This time I will also do it without all the attributes that are normally part of a World Cup.

Do you watch the World Cup in the small hall with a bad conscience?
Not with a guilty conscience, but rather with annoyance at FIFA, which is doing the sport a disservice with this World Cup prize. Instead of what connects the sport with the achievements of the footballers, the focus is – quite rightly – on completely different topics: the lack of human rights, appalling working conditions for migrant workers, discrimination and oppression of women and homosexuals. We are talking about the fact that there is no freedom of religion in Qatar. Likewise, no freedom of the press – which journalists from all over the world are currently experiencing firsthand. It’s a pity that the focus is not on sports, but in this context it is necessary. The protests against the lack of human rights in Qatar will shape this World Cup.

Also on the field? Like in 1995, for example, when the Swiss national team protested against the French nuclear tests with a banner saying “Stop it, Chirac”?
Demonstrations and protests will take place all over the world. And I’m sure, even on the football field. There were courageous actions in advance. For example, the German national team showed up with “Human Rights” T-shirts. There are probably players in the Swiss national team who do not just accept the situation and want to send a signal.

Aren’t political actions on the football field wrong?
I would rather have a World Cup in a country that respects human rights. Then protests would be superfluous. I hate it when sport is misused for political campaigns. However, here’s the problem with the organizers themselves: Qatar is misusing the sport to do PR for itself.

Qatar has been in the spotlight for its human rights record and has therefore also implemented certain improvements for migrant workers. That’s positive.
The situation for migrant workers has improved somewhat in recent years and FIFA wants to pay more attention to labor rights in the future. How sustainable are these commitments really? What will happen in Qatar after the World Cup? Despite everything, the working conditions for migrant workers from Nepal, Sri Lanka or Pakistan are appalling. And is there really a rethink in FIFA, the International Olympic Committee and other major sports federations? So far I have only heard lip service, there is no proof. The most recent example is the awarding of the 2029 Asian Winter Games to Saudi Arabia. Not to mention the human rights situation in a country where it doesn’t even snow. This is a joke, a scandal. This makes the sport lose all credibility.

How can this be corrected?
FIFA and the IOC have promised for decades that they will do better in the future. However, this requires a transparent electoral procedure for the allocation of major sporting events. The candidates must also commit to human rights and the protection of workers. An exclusion principle would be necessary: ​​those who do not meet certain criteria may not apply. Dictatorships and autocratic regimes would be excluded from the outset. Qatar would never have gotten into the wreaths.

Finally, on the sporting side: what do you think the Swiss national team is capable of?
Our national team is better than ever. She can beat any opponent. She proved that with victories over Spain or Portugal in the Nations League or the European Championship victory over France. That’s why I have every confidence in our team and I’m looking forward to it.