In Germany and other European countries, the criticism of the World Cup in Qatar is great. Initiatives like Boycott Qatar 2022 call for ignoring the tournament altogether. But not everyone shares the critical view of the Arab country unreservedly, but urges a little more restraint in the face of their own grievances. Otto Addo, who was born in Hamburg, ex-Bundesliga professional, youth coach at Borussia Dortmund and at the same time national coach of Ghana, for example, takes a different view.
The 47-year-old considers European criticism of the World Cup to be hypocritical and accuses Germany in particular of double standards. “I think it’s extremely important that the grievances in Qatar are addressed, especially when people die,” said Addo of the German Press Agency dpa before the start of the tournament on Sunday. “Nevertheless, it’s a very European point of view when you think you’re much better than Qatar yourself,” Addo continued.
“Off the coast of the EU, to which Germany also belongs, people die every day because they are not accepted. And they flee for economic reasons that we are partly responsible for and have partly caused in history,” complained the 47-year-old native of Hamburg . “In Africa, thousands of people die of hunger every day and in Germany, tons of food are thrown away every day.”
According to Addo, who also works as a coach for Borussia Dortmund’s top talents, criticism of the World Cup is “not an issue at all” in Ghana because “there are many other problems”. The former Bundesliga professional appealed to all World Cup critics for all justified information: “You should also sweep your own front door.”
