Calls for World Cup Boycott Over Political Tensions

A member of the German soccer federation’s executive committee has raised the possibility of a World Cup boycott in response to the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Oke Göttlich, President of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and one of the federation’s ten vice presidents, expressed in an interview with the Hamburger Morgenpost that “the time has come” to “seriously consider and discuss this issue.”

Göttlich pointed to Trump’s attempts to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member, and his threats to impose tariffs on eight European nations that opposed the takeover. These actions have left many of America’s closest allies concerned about a potential rift with Washington, which could jeopardize the NATO alliance.

He questioned, “What were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s? By my reckoning, the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.”

The United States is slated to co-host the World Cup from June 11 to July 19, alongside Canada and Mexico. Fans have expressed worries about high ticket prices, and travel bans enacted by the Trump administration are preventing supporters from certain competing nations from attending the event.

Göttlich, who champions the defense of values, may face opposition from federation president Bernd Neuendorf and FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding calls for a boycott.

Earlier this week, France’s sports minister, Marina Ferrari, stated that her country is not currently contemplating a boycott related to tensions surrounding Greenland but did not entirely dismiss the possibility for the future. “At the moment we are speaking, there is no desire from the ministry to boycott this major, much-anticipated competition,” she commented to reporters, adding, “That said, I am not prejudging what might happen.”

The German federation has previously expressed concerns regarding Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup. After a disappointing performance at that tournament, the new coach, Julian Nagelsmann, indicated a desire to avoid further political distractions.

Göttlich lamented, “Qatar was too political for everyone, and now we’re completely apolitical? That’s something that really, really, really bothers me. As organizations and society, we’re forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries, and how to defend values.”

He posed critical questions about the thresholds of these taboos in light of threats and violence, stating, “I would like to know from Donald Trump when he has reached his taboo, and I would like to know from Bernd Neuendorf and Gianni Infantino.”

St. Pauli, based in Hamburg, is recognized for intertwining sports with politics, particularly maintaining a left-wing stance. The club’s iconic pirate skull-and-crossbones symbol originated from squatters in the area and was later embraced by fans identifying as punks.

Göttlich dismissed concerns that a boycott would adversely affect St. Pauli’s national team players, including Australia’s Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe, as well as Japan’s Joel Chima Fujita. He asserted, “The life of a professional player is not worth more than the lives of countless people in various regions who are being directly or indirectly attacked or threatened by the World Cup host.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.