ENGLISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION chief executive Mark Bullingham says he has been told LGBTQ+ fans wonโt be arrested for holding hands or kissing in public at the World Cup in Qatar.
The LGBTQ+ community had raised concerns over how safe they will be at the tournament in November-December as same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the Gulf state.
Some English LGBTQ+ fans will reportedly stay away from the World Cup because they have not received adequate assurances.
But Bullingham revealed that he has been told police in Qatar are briefed to be tolerant during the tournament.
Asked whether the FA had planned for the scenario of an England fan being arrested for holding hands or kissing a same-sex partner in public, Bullingham said: โWe have been asking those questions of the Qatari authorities over the last six months.
โThey have absolutely told us all the right answers for anything weโve talked about, even down to the point of โare rainbow flags allowed?โ
โYes, absolutely (they are allowed) as long as someone doesnโt go and drape them on the outside of a mosque โ that was one example we were given โ and were disrespectful in that way.
โBut they have absolutely been briefed to be very tolerant and act in the right way. Any time we ask a direct question we tend to get an answer.โ
Despite those assurances, FA chiefs are still requesting more detail from the local organising committee that all fans, including those from the LGBTQ+ community, will be safe and secure in Qatar.
The FA has joined nine other European federations in joining the โOneLoveโ anti-discrimination campaign.
England captain Harry Kane will wear a rainbow armband supporting the campaign at the World Cup.
โAs captains we may all be competing against each other on the pitch, but we stand together against all forms of discrimination,โ Kane said.
This is even more relevant at a time when division is common in society. Wearing the armband together on behalf of our teams will send a clear message when the world is watching.โ
Bullingham said the FA are also lobbying FIFA for an update regarding a compensation scheme for migrant workers in Qatar and the creation of a centre to help those workers access support.
โWe continue to push for the principle of compensation for the families of migrant workers who have lost their lives or have been injured in construction projects,โ he said.
โAgain, we are pushing FIFA for an update on the compensation fund which has been consistently referenced as a safety net where workers and their families have been unable to secure compensation from the construction companies.โ
We all know this isnโt true
@Pol Mlp: Agreed ,Plus thank God our LGBT friends in England will be safe enoughโฆThe French and the Germans would want to take heedโฆ.
The hypocrisy around the staging of this WC is astounding. From how the Nepalese workers who built the stadia were treated as slaves, to it being openly proven the Qataris bought the tournament. Thatโs even before you get into how they treat people over there โ women, minorities, etc.
I wonโt be watching anyway.
If you believe that then you believe in the tooth fairy? Oh! And the local morality police hate fairies.
@Liam OโFlaherty: I see what youโve done here.
@Liam OโFlaherty: but the tooth fairy exists no? lol
No, theyโll just be stoned to death.