BERLIN (AP) 鈥� A German soccer federation executive committee member says it鈥檚 time to consider a World Cup boycott because of the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Oke G枚ttlich, the president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and one of the German federation鈥檚 10 vice presidents, told the in an interview on Friday that 鈥渢he time has come鈥� to 鈥渟eriously consider and discuss this.鈥�
Trump has sowed discord in Europe with his 鈥� a semiautonomous territory of NATO member Denmark 鈥� and his subsequent on eight European countries who opposed the takeover. It left many of America鈥檚 closest allies warning of a capable of shattering the NATO alliance.
鈥淲hat were the justifications for the boycotts of the Olympic Games in the 1980s?鈥� G枚ttlich said. 鈥淏y my reckoning the potential threat is greater now than it was then. We need to have this discussion.鈥�
The United States is co-hosting the World Cup from June 11-July 19 with Canada and Mexico. Fans have concerns about , while travel bans imposed by the Trump administration are also from some competing nations from attending.
G枚ttlich, who has called for the defense of values, is likely to meet resistance to calls for a boycott from federation president Bernd Neuendorf and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
鈥淨atar was too political for everyone and now we鈥檙e completely apolitical? That鈥檚 something that really, really, really bothers me,鈥� G枚ttlich said of the German federation鈥檚 opposition to the previous World Cup host.
Germany flopped at that tournament, and the coach who took over afterward said he wanted .
鈥淎s organizations and society, we鈥檙e forgetting how to set taboos and boundaries, and how to defend values,” G枚ttlich said. “Taboos are an essential part of our stance. Is a taboo crossed when someone threatens? Is a taboo crossed when someone attacks? When people die? 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.鈥�
Hamburg-based St. Pauli is near the the city鈥檚 red-light district, and particularly its left-wing stance. The club’s famous pirate skull-and-crossbones symbol was first carried by squatters who lived nearby and later popularized by fans who identified as punks.
G枚ttlich dismissed the suggestion a boycott would hurt St. Pauli’s national team players, Australia鈥檚 Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe, and Japan鈥檚 Joel Chima Fujita.
鈥淭he 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,鈥� he said.
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