Germany rejects calls for World Cup boycott

"Germany's government on Wednesday rejected calls for a boycott of the football World Cup co-hosted by the United States, after President Donald Trump retreated from his threats to seize Greenland. A boycott of the tournament would not be "the right approach", government spokesman Steffen Meyer told a press conference in Berlin. "Political disputes should be settled at the political level, and sport should be left to be sport." This year's World Cup is to be held between June 11th and July 19th in the United States, Canada and Mexico."

"Some German politicians had questioned whether the country should still participate after Trump last month stepped up his longstanding threats to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. He targeted eight European countries, including Germany, with tariffs for their opposition to his ambitions. But the US leader later withdrew his tariff threats and vowed not to take the Arctic island by force, after saying he had struck a "framework" deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater American influence."

"At the height of the crisis, Berlin had avoided taking a clear stance on a boycott, saying only it was up to the country's football association to decide. READ ALSO: 'Insanely frustrated' - Americans in Germany react to Trump's threats against Europe Germany's minister for sports, Christiane Schenderlein, also said Wednesday the government had decided that it did not support a boycott. "Sport must not be exploited like this," she told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily."

Germany rejected calls for a boycott of the football World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, stating a boycott would not be the right approach. Government spokesman Steffen Meyer said political disputes should be settled at the political level and sport should be left to be sport. Some politicians questioned participation after President Donald Trump increased threats to annex Greenland and targeted several European countries with tariffs. Trump later withdrew the tariff threats and vowed not to take the island by force after saying he had struck a "framework" deal with Mark Rutte. The government and sports minister said they did not support a boycott and that sport must not be exploited.

Read at The Local Germany