Klinsmann: Germany acts as if it were the world’s judge and behaved disrespectfully sports

Former German striker and coach Jurgen Klinsmann criticized Germany for the wave of criticism directed at America, one of the three countries hosting the World Cup, as well as at the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

“We tend to judge other countries even though we do not know the truth,” Klinsmann, who has lived in California for several years, said in statements to the newspaper group affiliated with the Funke Publishing House.

He added: “We act as if we were the world’s judge.”

Klinsmann, 61, who won the 1990 World Cup, urged Germany to focus on football and show respect to the host countries.

Some parties in Germany criticized the positions related to the war in Iran and American internal policies during the era of President Donald Trump, in addition to the high ticket prices and significant increases in transportation costs in some locations of the World Cup tournament, which is held during the period from June 11 to July 19 in America, Mexico and Canada.

Klinsmann urged the fans who will travel to America to take a direct look, stressing that America is a great country despite all the problems.

“If you want to get a true picture of a country, you have to visit it in person,” he said. “Trying to judge everything from the comfort of your seat is exactly what bothers me.”

Klinsmann stated that the German national team should not take a political stance as it did four years ago, in Qatar, where the team took a photo with their hands in front of their mouths in protest against FIFA’s decision to ban the leadership badge bearing the slogan “One Love.”

Referring to the German team’s exit from the group stage, he said: “Then I realized that this World Cup would be a complete disaster.”

He added: “This was completely disrespectful towards the hosts. I hope we have learned our lesson,” stressing that one cannot become a world champion by “constantly talking about all kinds of social and political issues.”