"The German Football Association (DFB) has broken its silence on the matter of a potential boycott of the World Cup, to be hosted by the United States this summer, with a few games also to be played in Mexico and Canada. Speaking at a German Football League (DFL) meeting on Monday, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said: "I don't think this is a big debate at all, because I believe we at the DFB are very unanimous in our view that this debate is completely misguided at this point in time." DFL President Hans-Joachim Watzke, also present at the event, said now was not the time to discuss such a topic."
"He was supported by Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, who referenced the 2018 World Cup in Russia where all teams played four years after the hosts annexed the Crimea from Ukraine. Dreesen added he doesn't see why Germany shouldn't participate in the tournament this year and that geopolitics should be handled elsewhere. Boycott calls growing Calls for a boycott have been growing in both Germany and Europe in light of US President Donald Trump's position on Greenland and, more recently, after a second fatal shooting in the city of Minneapolis by members of ICE."
DFB leadership has publicly opposed calls to boycott the World Cup being hosted in the United States with some matches in Mexico and Canada, describing the boycott debate as misguided and not a major issue. Bundesliga and club executives deem discussion of a boycott ill-timed and prefer postponing it until an appropriate moment. Bayern Munich referenced the 2018 Russia precedent and argued that geopolitics should be addressed separately from sporting participation. Boycott pressure in Germany and Europe has increased after US political moves on Greenland and a recent fatal Minneapolis shooting involving immigration agents, while some officials personally advise against travel but accept majority decisions.
Read at www.dw.com
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