Qatar WC one of the most controversial: German football chief

German football federation (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf believes World Cup host Qatar still has work to do on societal issues ahead of the tournament later this year, reported dpa.

Many changes to the laws in the Emirate "are only being implemented inadequately", Neuendorf told Kicker magazine on Monday. He also sees "clear differences" in "women's rights, freedom of the press or the LGBTIQ+ issue."

Neuendorf, who backs calls to set up a support project for the bereaved families of World Cup workers who died in accidents, is travelling to Qatar ahead of the tournament in November and December together with German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

"We can and must position ourselves as the DFB, but political support on the ground is immensely important," he said. "That's why I'm glad that Nancy Faeser has made the suggestion to travel to Qatar together."

And Neuendorf is sceptical about the statement by FIFA president Gianni Infantino that the World Cup in Qatar will be the greatest tournament of all time.

"But what we can already say with certainty today is that it will be one of the most controversial World Cups ever held," he said.