Several cafes and municipalities announced this week that they won't broadcast The World Cup when it takes place in Qatar in November, reported Bruzz. The boycott is due to ethical concerns surrounding the World Cup, but not all establishments will follow suit.
Cafés Maison du Peuple in Saint-Gilles announced on Facebook that they won't broadcast the World Cup, citing human rights issues after people died in building the stadium in Qatar.
Moreover, Maison du Peuple stressed the energy use involved in cooling a stadium in a desert as well as alleged corruption that led to Qatar hosting the World Cup.
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In addition to Maison du Peuple, Le Caberdouche in Brussels-City, which has the same owner as well as Brasseire de l'Union in Saint-Gilles won't broadcast the World Cup.
The Guardian reported there have been at least 37 deaths directly linked to building the World Cup stadium, while thousands of migrant workers have perished in the country after Qatar was awarded the World Cup.
Financial concerns
Yet not all bars can afford not to broadcast the World Cup during an uncertain period after the pandemic and during the the current energy crisis. Bruzz reported how sports café 77 Bar in Ixelles will screen the matches as they cannot afford not to broadcast even if they don't support Qatar's practices.
Café Luxembourg on Luxembourg Square will do the same as it is an area with many expats and it fears losing customers to its competition.
Bruzz reported that many cafes in Brussels feel the same, that they do not agree with the conditions of the World Cup but financially cannot afford not to broadcast.
Yet several Brussels municipalities, including Brussels City, Jettte, Auderghem, and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, have chosen not broadcast the matches for ethical and environmental reasons.
