German football bars boycott 'unacceptable' Qatar World Cup

When Germany kick off their Qatar World Cup campaign against Japan next week, the projector screens at Berlin's Fargo football bar will be in their unusual rolled-up position.

The bar, which tailors its regular opening hours to the football schedule, will not even open its doors until an hour after the match is completed.

"We do not agree that the World Cup should take place in a country where the purpose is obviously sports washing and to make the country look different internationally than it actually is," Fargo spokesperson Joschik Pech told AFP.

"We would not feel good having fun watching the games when we know (it's a place) where (a person's) sexuality cannot be lived out freely," he said.

Fargo is one of dozens of bars across Germany, including several in the capital of Berlin, which have pledged to boycott what is normally a showpiece event in the football-mad nation. 

Qatar's treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community has come under the spotlight as it prepares to host the tournament. Qatar has angrily rebuffed most of the attacks.

The chief World Cup organiser said attacks on the Gulf state had been launched because it "competed as equals and snatched" the World Cup from rival bidders.

Several other sites, including Berlin's famous 'Fan Mile' against the backdrop of the Brandenburg Gate, have cancelled public viewing events, officially due to concerns surrounding the weather, energy costs and risk of Covid infections. 

Members of Germany's activist football fan culture have been particularly outspoken about the event, with supporters of several high-profile clubs including Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin and St Pauli urging boycotts.

'Unacceptable'

Not wanting to simply ignore the