Germany’s top soccer official has spoken out ahead of this summer’s World Cup, urging participating countries to “seriously consider” boycotting it over Donald Trump’s ongoing actions.
President Trump’s proposed purchase of Greenland is controversial (Image: Getty Images)
England and Scotland have been urged to “seriously consider” boycotting the World Cup following US President Donald Trump’s continued actions. This summer’s tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
President Trump has attempted to take over Greenland, currently a territory of Denmark, sparking outrage across Europe. He also threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries that opposed the deal.
Now, top German soccer officials have spoken out, saying a boycott of the sport’s flagship tournament should be discussed among participating countries.
“The time has come,” said Oke Gottrich, president of the Bundesliga St. Pauli and one of the German federation’s 10 vice-presidents.
read more: World Cup powerhouse teams decide to boycott Greenland following President Donald Trump’s threat
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“What was the justification for boycotting the Olympics in the 1980s?” Getrich said. “In my opinion, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”
The German federation had previously expressed opposition to the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where they were eliminated in the group stage.
“Qatar was too political for everyone and now we’re completely apolitical? That’s really, really concerning,” Gottrich added.
“As organizations and societies, we are forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries, how to uphold our values. Taboos are an important part of our stance. Do we cross taboos when someone threatens us? Do we cross taboos when someone attacks us? When someone dies?
Manager Thomas Tuchel is trying to lead England to their first World Cup win since 1966 (Image: Getty Images)
“I want to know when Donald Trump became taboo, and I want to know when Bernd Neuendorf and Gianni Infantino reach that point.”
Fans are hesitant to attend the tournament, not only because of the situation in Greenland, but also because of soaring ticket prices and President Trump’s travel ban, which has prevented supporters from some countries from traveling.
Gottrich’s comments came after French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari did not rule out considering a boycott if tensions persist.
“As we speak, there is no intention from the ministry to boycott this highly anticipated competition,” he told reporters. “However, I’m not going to prejudge what’s going to happen.”
Gottlich’s club, St. Pauli, has historically had a large left-wing fan base and is known for merging sports and politics. Australians Jackson Irvine and Conor Metcalf, as well as Japanese star Joel Chima Fujita, currently play for the club.
“The lives of professional athletes are no more valuable than the lives of countless people in different regions who are directly or indirectly attacked and threatened by the World Cup host country,” Gottrich added.
England and Scotland are guaranteed a place in the tournament, with the Republic of Ireland and Wales or Northern Ireland also potentially participating.
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