Niersbach: Football must work side by side with those responsible at the political end, whenever basic issues of social significance, of living together, are at stake. The DFB is committed to encouraging the observance of human rights, an independent judicial system, freedom of opinion, and freedom of the press. And any European Championship tournament, due to the large media presence, will offer a very publicly visible platform generating news not just about the 31 matches scheduled to be played, but also about the country and the people living there.
DFB.de: In how far are our national team players "educated"?
Niersbach: It is standard operating procedure for us to hand out detailed information prior to every away game or major tournament, such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. That's part of the professional preparation both team manager Oliver Bierhoff and all other decision-makers in German football lay great store by. But at the end of the day, people have to understand that the key issue for the players is and remains their on-pitch performance.
DFB.de: Would boycotting the event be an alternative?
Niersbach: The DFB clearly shares the unambiguous stance as confirmed today by Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that any such considerations would contradict the very ideals of sport, which are to unify people, be a force for integration, and promote competition in the spirit of fair-play. Let me remind you of the Olympic Games Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. At both events, it was the athletes who suffered most from the decision to boycott the Games.
DFB.de: Do you still believe that EURO 2012 will be a problem-free, smoothly organized event?
Niersbach: We consider ourselves well prepared and have full confidence in the two host countries' efforts to create, together with UEFA, good conditions for the participating teams, official delegations, media representatives, and supporters. But our expectations to just celebrate a festival of football in an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm, mustn't make us forget or ignore the political situation on the ground. Which is why, prior to the tournament, it would be so important to receive a positive signal of humanity.
[bild1]
In this exclusive interview, DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach talks to DFB.de about the current situation in Ukraine, the country to host EURO 2012 together with Poland.
DFB.de: Mr Niersbach, what is the DFB's view on today's declaration by Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle who demands that Julia Timoshenko, the former Ukrainian President, be allowed to get the best possible medical treatment, as soon as possible?
Wolfgang Niersbach: We support the German Federal Government without any ifs and buts. Speaking for sports and football in particular, I think it would be more than just a humane gesture to treat Mrs Timoshenko decently, and to have her receive the medical treatment she needs. In actual fact, that is the signal the entire global community is waiting for.
DFB.de: Preparing for the final round of a European Championship, how important is it to take politics into account?
Niersbach: Very important indeed, which is why for a few months now we've been in close contact with the German Foreign Office and the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, Markus Löning, the objective being to receive regular updates on the situation on the ground and coordinate whatever action needs to be taken in all matters Ukrainian and Polish.
DFB.de: Are there any direct contacts to people or organizations in Ukraine itself?
Niersbach: No, because generally speaking the organization of the competition is the responsibility of UEFA who is also the two host countries' contractual partner. We took our national team to Kiev in November 2011 for an international friendly match, where we became aware of the major domestic problems there and met a few people who gave us some first-hand reports. But the Foreign Office, of course, remains our prime source of information, and that is the basis for us to work from.
DFB.de: How exactly would you define the DFB's position, and is there anything at all football can do?
Niersbach: Football must work side by side with those responsible at the political end, whenever basic issues of social significance, of living together, are at stake. The DFB is committed to encouraging the observance of human rights, an independent judicial system, freedom of opinion, and freedom of the press. And any European Championship tournament, due to the large media presence, will offer a very publicly visible platform generating news not just about the 31 matches scheduled to be played, but also about the country and the people living there.
DFB.de: In how far are our national team players "educated"?
Niersbach: It is standard operating procedure for us to hand out detailed information prior to every away game or major tournament, such as the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. That's part of the professional preparation both team manager Oliver Bierhoff and all other decision-makers in German football lay great store by. But at the end of the day, people have to understand that the key issue for the players is and remains their on-pitch performance.
DFB.de: Would boycotting the event be an alternative?
[bild2]
Niersbach: The DFB clearly shares the unambiguous stance as confirmed today by Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle that any such considerations would contradict the very ideals of sport, which are to unify people, be a force for integration, and promote competition in the spirit of fair-play. Let me remind you of the Olympic Games Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984. At both events, it was the athletes who suffered most from the decision to boycott the Games.
DFB.de: Do you still believe that EURO 2012 will be a problem-free, smoothly organized event?
Niersbach: We consider ourselves well prepared and have full confidence in the two host countries' efforts to create, together with UEFA, good conditions for the participating teams, official delegations, media representatives, and supporters. But our expectations to just celebrate a festival of football in an atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm, mustn't make us forget or ignore the political situation on the ground. Which is why, prior to the tournament, it would be so important to receive a positive signal of humanity.
