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IS GERMANY OUT? THE TRUTH BEHIND THE 2026 WORLD CUP BOYCOTT THREATS
German FA Vice President Oke Göttlich urges Europe to discuss a 2026 World Cup boycott in response to President Trump's policies.
A top German football official is calling on Europe to think seriously about boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He’s worried about President Trump’s recent talk about Greenland and his aggressive foreign policies, which have left a lot of people in Europe uneasy.
Oke Göttlich, who runs the Bundesliga club St. Pauli and also serves as a vice president of the German Football Association, told German media it’s time to actually sit down and talk about a boycott. He compared the situation now to the Olympic boycotts back in the Cold War days.
“What were the reasons for those Olympic boycotts in the 1980s? “Göttlich asked the Hamburger Morgenpost. “Honestly, I think the risks are bigger now than they were back then. We need to talk about this.”
He also took a shot at FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who’s often seen as being close to Trump. Göttlich accused football’s leaders of having double standards.
“Qatar was supposedly too political for everyone, and now we’re just pretending politics don’t exist?” he said. “That really gets to me.”
His comments have added fuel to the ongoing debate in Europe: can global sports really stay out of politics, especially now, when Trump keeps turning up the heat on allies—from his threats about Greenland to talk of military action in Venezuela—and treats the World Cup as a kind of political trophy for his next term?
Not everyone in government is on board. France’s sports minister said this week that Paris has “no desire” to boycott the tournament, which the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will co-host. She believes sports and politics should stay separate.
Still, some football leaders in Europe aren’t shying away from political issues. Norway’s federation president, Lise Klaveness, has spoken out about human rights problems connected to major tournaments. Ireland’s football association even pushed to ban Israel from international competition before last year’s Gaza peace deal.
Göttlich also brushed aside the idea that a boycott would be unfair to players, including St. Pauli’s own international stars.
“The life of a professional footballer isn’t worth more than the lives of countless people in different regions who are being attacked or threatened by the World Cup host, whether directly or not,” he said.
MARSEILLE MELTDOWN: WHY MEDHI BENATIA QUIT AFTER A BITTER MASON GREENWOOD FALLOUT
Marseille meltdown: Medhi Benatia resigns as Sporting Director after clashes with Mason Greenwood. Get the latest on De Zerbi’s exit.
Marseille’s sporting director, Medhi Benatia, has quit his job after reports of friction with Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United striker.
It’s a tough time for the club. Benatia’s exit comes with pressure piling up; Marseille’s going through a rough patch that also saw Roberto De Zerbi walk out. De Zerbi left after that brutal 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The team are sitting in fourth, and they just missed out on the next round of the Champions League in dramatic fashion.
Benatia, who used to play for Morocco and had a solid career with Bayern Munich, Roma, and Juventus, confirmed he’s stepping down. In his statement, he didn’t hold back: “Since I got here, I’ve poured my heart into this job with one goal: getting Marseille back where it belongs. I know this club inside out. I understand what it asks of you and the passion behind it.”
He tried to keep things positive: “We’re still in the fight. Making the Champions League is within reach, and we’re still gunning for the Coupe de France. Even with the setbacks and bad luck, the project’s still moving forward on the pitch. But I can’t ignore what’s happening around us.”
Benatia pointed to growing frustration and a communication breakdown: “In Marseille, results speak for themselves. You know I don’t sugarcoat things. With all the tension in management, I’ve handed in my resignation because, to me, the club always comes first. I don’t want to be an obstacle or a burden.”
He finished with a note of regret: “I did everything I could, but I couldn’t calm things down around the team even though I really believe they can hit their targets.”
Apparently, Benatia and Greenwood just didn’t get along. Greenwood’s been crucial for Marseille since joining in 2024, and while De Zerbi backed him publicly, things between Benatia and Greenwood reportedly got icy. L’Equipe claimed the two barely spoke, and Benatia didn’t hide his criticism on or off the field.
Some say Benatia got fed up with Greenwood ignoring commercial duties last summer and not caring about the fallout. Now De Zerbi’s on the market, a familiar name for clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham, both hunting for new managers.
De Zerbi’s already been linked to United before. After his stint at Brighton, he was apparently considered for the Old Trafford job before they stuck with Erik ten Hag.
ARRESTS AT THE MKM: WHY POLICE INTERVENED DURING HULL CITY’S FA CUP DEFEAT
Police made arrests at the MKM Stadium as Chelsea beat Hull 4-0. Read the full report on Pedro Neto's hat-trick and the fan fallout.
Hull City say police made arrests after fans started up discriminatory chants during their 4-0 FA Cup loss to Chelsea on Friday night. Early in the game, the stadium’s PA system cut in with a warning: stop the chanting, or face arrest. Stewards and police didn’t mess around in the second half; the club announced they’d actually detained some supporters.
The chant targeted Chelsea and was homophobic. It’s not the first time this kind of thing has happened. Back in 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service made it clear that a certain lyric in the chant is a homophobic slur, and using it can land you in legal trouble. Just ask Paul Boardman, a Liverpool fan who got slapped with a Wembley ban and a £500 fine for shouting it at a train station.
Meanwhile, the game itself got away from Hull. Chelsea rolled over them, with Pedro Neto bagging a hat-trick. Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic still found a few positives, though. He liked the team’s defensive setup and thought they could’ve used their counterattacks better. “We deserved at least one goal,” he said, “but if we play like this, we’ll be in a good spot in the Championship.” He’s already thinking ahead to the next match against QPR.
On the other side, Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior was back at the MKM Stadium, his old stomping ground. He was buzzing about his team’s attitude and effort, especially in the first half. “Hull are flying in the Championship, and I hope they make the Premier League,” he said. “But our mentality and quality tonight made the difference.” He singled out Pedro Neto for his work rate and finishing, but really, he seemed proud of the whole squad. “Everyone put in a shift. The mentality was spot on.”
The night was extra special for Rosenior. He had more than 20 family members in the stands and got warm applause from both sets of fans. “This club means a lot to my family and me,” he said. “I really appreciate the welcome. It was a good night all around.”
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