More pressure needed on WC hosts Qatar: HRW

The director of Human Rights Watch has called on the German football federation (DFB) and global governing body FIFA to increase pressure on 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar as the European qualifiers come to an end, reported dpa.

"The DFB must clearly state where the deficits in human rights lie," Wenzel Michalski told the Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday. "On one hand to make it clear: 'We are aware of where we are going'.

"And on the other hand, to prevent the World Cup from being exploited for propaganda purposes.

"FIFA, the DFB, everyone can and must exert pressure," the human rights expert demanded. "These values - fairness, equality, freedom of opinion - are far from being sufficiently enforced in Qatar."

The DFB, Michalski said, is "more aware of its responsibility" than FIFA.

But the DFB must still ensure "the service providers the national team deals with in Qatar have observed human rights."

Germany have already qualified for the finals in Qatar and conclude their qualifying campaign at home to Liechtenstein on November 11 and away to Armenia three days later.

The World Cup takes place November 21-December 18 next year.