The giant banners are now a familiar sight at German Bundesliga matches.
Unfurled by fans, and seen by millions watching on TV, “Boycott Qatar 2022” has become a rallying cry for clubs, supporters and players alike who oppose this month’s World Cup and want to highlight human rights and environmental concerns in the host nation.
“The closer the World Cup gets, the more intense the message is getting,” explained Stefan Schirmer from the Boycott Qatar campaign.
Schirmer is involved with other volunteers in the campaign to keep public attention on the controversial decision to award the World Cup to Qatar. Recently, the US Justice Department alleged Qatar was involved in bribing FIFA delegates for votes, something Doha and FIFA strongly deny.
The campaign also seeks to further publicise concerns over the rights of women, the LGBT community and migrant workers, democracy and the environmental impact of hosting a tournament in air-conditioned stadiums.
Philipp Lahm, the former German player who captained his country to the World Cup title in Brazil eight years ago, said recently that he won’t be going to Qatar as part of the official delegation or as a fan.
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