Doha: Qatar summoned Germany’s ambassador on Friday to object to the interior minister’s comments that questioned whether the Gulf state should host the World Cup, the foreign ministry said.
German Interior Minister Nancy Fesser also criticized Qatar’s human rights record in a televised interview on Thursday ahead of the soccer tournament, which starts on November 20.
Qatar’s foreign ministry sent an “objection memo” to the ambassador, an official statement said.
The letter expressed “disappointment and total rejection and condemnation of remarks” by Doha regarding Qatar’s “hosting of the World Cup”.
The ministry “sought an explanation for these remarks”.
Feser was scheduled to visit Qatar on Monday.
In an interview on Thursday, Fesser said that for the German government, Qatar’s hosting of the tournament was “very difficult.”
He added: “There are standards that must be followed and it would be better if such states are not awarded tournaments.”
The country has faced widespread criticism for its alleged treatment of migrant workers, as well as the rights of women and the LGBTQ community.
This is the first time that a foreign ambassador has been summoned for such comments.
Fesser said in a statement released ahead of his visit with the head of the German football federation that the issue of rights would be raised in the talks.
“A World Cup does not happen in a vacuum. Human rights always apply everywhere – and now the whole world is paying special attention,” Feser said.
