German official hopes for political 'nightmare' to end before WC

Andreas Rettig, Director of Football at the German Football Association (DFB), speaks on stage during the Spobis sports business conference at the CCH Congress Center Hamburg. Marcus Brandt/dpa

German Football Federation (DFB) managing director Andreas Rettig hopes for the political situation to calm down in time for the World Cup and suggested that United States president Donald Trump should live up to having received a FIFA Peace Prize.

“We’re all hoping this nightmare will be over soon," Rettig told dpa at an event in Hamburg on Wednesday night.

"It really is astonishing, day in, day out, what’s happening on the geopolitical front. I can’t even make sense of a lot of things anymore because of how quickly they’re unfolding and how irrational they are. I have to admit that.”

Trump and his administration have been criticised in various areas from the crackdown against illegal immigrants to the Iran war.

The war has led to concerns that Iran could pull out of the June 11-July 19 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada. Concerns have been eased a bit after a ceasefire has been agreed but a final saying is expected to come from Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

Iran are scheduled to play their group matches against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in the US. Trump has said he considers it not “appropriate” for Iran to take part “for their own life and safety”.

Rettig said it all "leaves you lost for words" as he recalled the bizarre December 5 group draw in Washington during which Trump received the Peace Prize from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“If I saw it correctly, Mr Trump was also presented with the Peace Prize. That should be an incentive to do this prize justice,” Rettig said.

Rettig said there will be no gagging order for the German team but that lessons must be learnt from Qatar 2022 where a human rights debate was a major distraction and contributed to the team's group stage exit.

“The closer we get to the tournament, the less we should allow ourselves to be distracted from our own focus. That was the mistake we made in Qatar. We let other issues sap our strength and energy,” Rettig said.