Football at the Christmas market and in pubs? It has long been discussed whether Christmas market stalls will broadcast the games of the controversial World Cup in Qatar. Many organizers and operators have something against it.
Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – A Christmas market stand in Hagen was one of the first in North Rhine-Westphalia to announce that it would not only serve mulled wine. He also wants to show World Cup matches from Sunday. “Everyone can of course decide for themselves. We have given the companies the freedom to show the games,” said the spokesman for the Hagen Christmas market, Alex Talash, at the request of the German Press Agency. This should enable the showmen to “earn an extra euro or two,” said Christmas market boss Dirk Wagner in a WDR interview.
However, the Christmas market in Hagen is as good as alone with that. For example, the organizers of the Dortmund Christmas City, as the market is called there, decided against a broadcast. One wishes for a Christmassy, ??calm atmosphere in which all visitors feel comfortable. From the point of view of the organizers, the transmission of football games does not fit in with this.
The discussion about the political situation in the World Cup host country Qatar also plays a role in the considerations. “We cannot criticize the human rights situation, poor working conditions, the status of women and the LGBTQIA community, deaths during construction work and allegations of corruption in procurement and still reward the World Cup with our attention. We think it is important to show our stance here.” , said a spokesman for the Dortmund Christmas City.
There will also be no World Cup games to be seen at the stands of the Bielefeld Christmas market. In fact, there have been inquiries from individual dealers and showmen. However, the organizer Bielefeld Marketing GmbH decided against the possibility of a broadcast “in order to preserve the traditional festive character of the Bielefeld Christmas market”. Essen, Cologne and Düsseldorf also refrain from broadcasting World Cup games, the cities said on request.
Also in many pubs no football will roll. The World Cup collided with the important Christmas business, so that some operators decided not to broadcast, said the spokesman for the German Hotel and Restaurant Association in North Rhine-Westphalia, Thorsten Hellwig. In addition, due to the time of year, restaurants cannot plan public viewing events in their beer gardens. The political situation in Qatar is also a reason for a boycott of the World Cup and an additional factor for the renunciation of some restaurants.
