The “BoycottQatar2022” initiative shows pubs and fans alternatives to the World Cup. Restaurateurs got creative in Nuremberg: there is free beer instead of public viewing and a specially brewed “boycott beer”.
Nuremberg – “Almost everyone rejects the tournament. But when cloudy November comes, you tune in.” Restaurateur Boris Braun sums up the basic problem of many football fans. The World Cup award is highly controversial, the news too Human rights violations in the host country Qatar shake. A few days before the start of the event, public criticism does not stop. How realistic is a large-scale boycott of the World Cup?
Braun, operator of the Café Wanderer in Nuremberg, is one of those actively fighting against the World Cup. In his displeasure and frustration with the Qatar decision, he came across the “Boycottqatar2022” initiative and was immediately hooked. For this World Cup, a large banner with their logo is emblazoned on his shop. His guests look in vain for public viewing hints. Opposite to Merkur.de von IPPEN-MEDIA Braun explains why he doesn’t want to give the Qatar World Cup a platform in his restaurant.
World Cup 2022 in Qatar: Numerous clubs and pubs support the call for a boycott
Boycott, but how? “The idea came about two years ago,” explains Bernd Beyer from “BoycottQatar2022‘ upon request from Merkur.de. It is an “active boycott”. Means: “We dealt with politics and Fifa on the human rights situation in Qatar”. Externally, the protest is mainly reflected in banners and stickers with the logo or the slogan “BoycottQatar2022”. The organization’s appeal contains the following criticisms:
- Lack of human rights
- Unworthy working conditions
- No football culture
- Commerce instead of football
- suspicion of corruption
They demand: Clear signals from the DFB, national players and coaches on the political situation in Qatar. DFB star Leon Goretzka was the first national player to speak out critical of the regime. The initiative also calls on companies not to carry out any marketing campaigns in connection with the World Cup. Around 150 clubs, organizations and pubs from all over Germany support the call, as well as a large number of individuals. Most themselves big football fans.
They demonstrate their resistance by drawing attention to the undignified conditions in discussions and statements and by not taking part in public viewing events. “The motto for the tournament date before Christmas 2022 is: Santa Claus instead of Adidas, gingerbread instead of Fifa.”
Should German politicians boycott the Qatar World Cup? Exclusive Bundestag survey 100 days before the start shows a split picture.
Throw in Qatar
This text is part of our theme week for the soccer World Cup in Qatar. In the next few days we will also be offering you sport-political background reports on Qatar on all IPPEN.MEDIA portals.
“Boycottqatar2022”: Organization offers “idea box” for alternative events
A consistent boycott of the World Cup naturally includes not watching the games privately either. The initiative therefore offers an “idea box” as an alternative to “goggling on TV”. These include outdoor activities such as our own football tournaments, flea markets or so-called “boycott runs”. For indoors, they suggest showing football films, organizing readings and quizzes, or organizing concerts instead of games. The No Qatar in My Pub campaign explicitly encourages bars to participate.
Boycott of the World Cup: Café Wanderer offers free beer to lure fans away from the “TVs”
“Everything that can only be weird is weird at this World Cup.” Braun isn’t just playing on them “blatant corruption” in the allocation of the venue and the lack of human rights, but also to the cooling of the stadiums by air conditioning.
He also always broadcast the games in his restaurant at the Albrecht Dürer House at the last tournaments. However, not showing the games is not enough as a boycott. In order to really lure football fans away from the television when the time comes, the man from Nuremberg came up with an idea. “Beer is always an option, which is why there will be free beer from the kick-off at the German games, where the temptation is greatest in this country.”
But the protest doesn’t stop there. The politically interested part of the active fan scene of 1. FC Nuremberg has announced that they will show up for one of the group games on the square in front of the café to demonstrate against Fifa.
World Cup 2022: Hardly any public viewing planned in Bavaria – numerous bars are also boycotting games
In numerous other pubs and restaurants, operators also do without live transmission. In Bavaria are the public viewing offers manageable for this year’s World Cup. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the events often take place in the open air and it is simply too cold for that. On the other hand, many deliberately do not offer an event. The cities of Nuremberg, Augsburg and Regensburg, for example, do not allow public viewing events on public land and justify this decision with the political situation in Qatar.
In Munich, too, fans will not be able to watch the games at all well-known public viewing locations this time. That MAC forum at the airportthe Park Café at the train station and the Olympiapark will not offer any broadcasts this year. Only the Paulaner am Nockherberg registered an event with the city.
As far as broadcasting the games in pubs is concerned, the picture in the state capital is rather divided. For example, the stadium on Schleißheimer Strasse – one of the most well-known football bars in Munich – has decided to show the games. “The main reason is, and we’re completely honest, we can’t afford to close for a month,” the operators said in an interview with the Evening News. The backstage also stays with the live stream of the games. In the vivo bar, for example, it’s quiet this time, the operators justify theirs Transmission boycott with the “totalitarian regime” in Qatar.
World Cup boycott: Nuremberg brewery designs its own protest beer
The Nuremberg restaurateur wanted to do more. Since Braun’s main job is a brewery geographer and he also buys for the Nuremberg Beer Authority, he had the idea of brewing a protest beer. He asked various small breweries. For most, however, the lead time was too short. However, the small Nuremberg brewery “Orcabrau” was immediately enthusiastic. “When Boris Braun from the Wanderer beer office in Nuremberg came up with the suggestion, it was immediately clear to us that we wanted to do it and set an example,” explains brewer Felix vom Endt Merkur.de.
Nuremberg brewery joins boycott: “receive calls with suppressed number”
The “Boycott Qatar Bier” has been available for purchase in the “Orcabrau” online shop since November 11th. The brewers opted for a classic light lager beer, “tasty and tasty”, a beer that goes well with football. “We want to transport the message with our beer.” Beer is an emotion and a label is much more than just a sticker. The grievances in Qatar cannot simply be accepted with a shrug. “We just want to make a difference and not just pour malt, water, hops and yeast together, bottle and sell it.” There have already been requests for the beer from all over Europe.
Beer and soccer… couldn’t be more emotional, right?
So far, the reactions to the protest beer from customers and friends have mostly been positive. However, there have also been critical voices, as vom Endt reveals. “We’ve had phone calls from blocked numbers calling our ‘Boycott Qatar Beer’ ‘slop.'” Also a few negative reviews. “But we’re clearly above that,” the brewer admits calmly. There are always “naggers” when things get emotional. “And I mean, beer and football… it doesn’t get any more emotional than that, right?”.
About IPPEN.MEDIA
The IPPEN.MEDIA network is one of the largest online publishers in Germany. At the locations in Berlin, Hamburg/Bremen, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart and Vienna, journalists from our central editorial office research and publish for more than 50 news offers. These include brands such as Merkur.de, FR.de and BuzzFeed Germany. Our news, interviews, analyzes and comments reach more than 5 million people in Germany every day.
Brewers want to bring “boycott beer” to Fifa sponsor Adidas: “Let’s ring the bell”
The brewers are hoping for more than just a sign: “If the majority publicly expresses their opinion about the World Cup, the big sponsors will perhaps consider whether they are still willing to invest many millions in Fifa.” Adidas and Puma in Herzogenaurach is only 20 kilometers away from the brewery. “We will certainly bring a crate of beer there and ring the bell.”
Boris Braun, who is also a buyer at the Nuremberg Beer Office, plans to serve the special beer in his café during the Germany games. 2000 liters have been brewed. “However, I believe that many restaurateurs will now wake up and then want this beer and it will not be enough by a long shot.” (tkip)