Joshua Kimmich, new captain of Germany’s national football team, stated on Wednesday that players should uphold societal values but remain wary of political entanglements. This comes ahead of the 2034 World Cup vote for Saudi Arabia amid concerns over human rights in the country.

Speaking before Germany’s upcoming Nations League matches, Kimmich addressed the intersection of politics and sports, emphasizing that while players should embody certain values, they are not political experts. His comments reflect on Germany’s past experience at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where political statements affected the team’s broader reception.

Kimmich also responded to criticisms of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and expressed hopes that future footballers can focus on the sport. The 2034 World Cup candidacy has attracted criticism from human rights groups like Amnesty International, but Saudi Arabia rebuffs these accusations.

(With inputs from agencies.)