World Cup hosts Qatar caught in gay rights storm after homophobic comments screened by official tournament broadcaster
WORLD CUP hosts Qatar were again caught in a gay rights storm after homophobic comments were screened by the official tournament broadcaster.
Former Egypt star Mohamed Aboutrika slammed the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign and called on Muslim stars to boycott it.
Aboutrika, 43, was speaking on beIN Sport, the Prem’s Middle East broadcast partner which will also be in charge of production for Qatar 2022.
In comments that were unchallenged, Aboutrika suggested any campaign on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community was promoting “an unnatural sexuality” and a “dangerous ideology” and urged Muslims to “stand up” against it.
His comments provoked an angry backlash and saw beIN rush out a response to insist: “We represent, champion and support causes and interests of every single background and cultural heritage.”
But there was no apology and the issue of gay rights in Qatar was further brought into the frame as 2022 World Cup chief Nasser Al Khater was pushed on whether openly gay fans could be themselves in his country.
He claimed gay fans would be “welcomed” and would not feel “threatened or unsafe”.
Yet he added: “Homosexual people live in Qatar — but public displays of affection are frowned upon.”
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