Borussia Mönchengladbach have released the following statement about the club's position on the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar, detailing how the club will report on the tournament, which runs from 20th November to 18th December.
Dear Borussia fans,
The 22nd edition of the World Cup begins in Qatar in ten days. In the last years, months and weeks, the sense in awarding the tournament to a country which has been criticised like no other previous World Cup host due to a range of human rights abuses has been heavily discussed. Football fans around the world are reflecting on how they should approach the tournament, and we at Borussia Mönchengladbach have also thought about our position on this World Cup.
We are convinced that it is not right that the World Cup is taking place in Qatar this year. In our eyes, the values that Borussia stands for are not compatible with the awarding and organisation of this World Cup. Key criteria like respecting human rights and sustainably using the resources of our planet have to be seriously taken into consideration in the future awarding of large, international tournaments.
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a modern, open-minded football club that takes its societal responsibility seriously. Our constitution sets forth that, as a club, we shall be neutral with regards to our ideology, party politics or faith, and to stand unambiguously for a free democratic order. We are committed therefore to the principle of human rights and actively stand against racism, xenophobia and unconstitutional behaviour, as well as discriminatory or inhuman behaviour.
Equally, we respect the desire of the national teams and all players to take part in the biggest football tournament in the world. This tournament is also one of the high points in the careers of Borussia players who are able to take part in the World Cup with their national teams. To ignore this would not be right in our eyes. As a result, we have come to the decision to report only on the on-the-pitch activities of our players on our club channels.
We will also use the coming weeks to even further underline Borussia’s position. One clear sign of this, but by no means the last, is the special exhibition “Responsibility in football” currently found at the FohlenWelt. There, you can learn how a societal responsibility for the Borussia family has grown out of our history, and how our club lives by these values and convictions today. Borussia’s viewpoint will never change: Against racism! For tolerance! For respect! For Borussia!
