Energy-efficient stadiums and low-emission means of transport: At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the world football association emphasized high sustainability standards. But according to the court’s decision, FIFA’s promises were misleading.
World football association FIFA’s statement about a World Cup tournament deemed “completely climate neutral” in Qatar in 2022 was misleading in the view of the Berlin district court. In its decision, the court ordered the association to refrain from making those and other allegations in the future.
This includes statements such as that FIFA’s sustainability strategy for the 2022 World Cup includes energy-efficient stadiums or low-emission means of transport. FIFA is also no longer allowed to claim that unavoidable emissions have been compensated for. The Berlin Regional Court later upheld the lawsuit filed by the Association of Federal Consumer Organizations (VzBv).
The consumer advice center objected to related statements on FIFA’s website regarding online ticket sales for a tournament three years ago in the desert state of Qatar. The regional court ruled that the allegations were not sufficiently explained by FIFA. From VzBv’s point of view, it is still unclear to what extent emissions should actually be reduced or simply offset.
“Consumers are deceived”
It is important to clarify whether and how climate neutrality can be achieved through mitigation or compensation, according to the decision. There is a risk that addressed customers will assume that emissions reductions will be much greater than is actually the case.
Based on the decision, FIFA is no longer permitted to make retroactive statements regarding the tournament in Qatar. However, this decision does not yet have binding legal force.
“The ruling shows: FIFA is defrauding consumers,” said VzBv board member Ramona Pop. “Anyone who makes a sustainability promise must also provide comprehensible evidence of that promise.”
The World Cup also caused a stir because it was the first global football tournament to have to be moved from summer to winter – due to temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in the June and July in which it was actually scheduled to be played. But even in winter, organizers have to cool the stadiums and advertise that they are still climate neutral. Qatar and FIFA have now been exposed by a German court for their campaign.
jb with dpa
