Qatar FIFA World Cup – Here we go, here we go, here we go….but not you lot!
The new/old Foreign Secretary JC, I’ve lost track on this, rattled a few cages recently by providing what on the whole seemed sensible government advice to LGBT+ Football Fans planning to go to Qatar to watch the FIFA World Cup.
He pointed out to fans to be “respectful of the host nation” and “show a little flex and compromise”.
When all said and done, Qatar is a nation where same-sex activity is illegal, like most Islamic/Muslim countries, so being sensible and respectful seems reasonable.
Pointing out that you should be considerate of the laws and culture of any country you visit seems very prudent and any right-minded person would follow that advice fully without question.
Whichever country I have visited, I have always endeavoured to ensure that I do not intentionally offend anyone and seek to be lawful, in the same way if someone visits our country, they should follow the same advice. There are many walks of life, religions, cultures around the world and we should be understanding of others’ views or beliefs especially if they are not our own.
We all at times need to be a little more tolerant.
If you are welcomed into someone’s home you are, I suggest, always respectful of their kindness and hospitality, why would you choose not to conduct yourself in a similar manner when travelling worldwide.
If you are offered a cuppa tea, most people would normally accept the offer, not insisting on a flat white or a chocolate covered cappuccino, or for that fact a beer or a double whiskey….. respect your host and their ways, is the order of the day.
So, who was LP Shadow digital, culture, media and sport secretary grand standing too, when stating JC remarks were “shockingly tone-deaf”, and “Sport should be open for all”. and that “Many fans will feel they can’t attend this tournament to cheer on their team because of Qatar’s record on human, workers and LGBT+ rights”.
Really, you’re not going to get many votes from a group that represents only 2% of the population (ONS Figures), so why take pot shots at someone offering reasonable advice.
PT was also unsurprisingly “surrounded and interrogated” by authorities following his recent one-man protest in Qatar, believed to be the first LGBT rights protest to take place in any Gulf state. He’s got some balls, but what planet was he on if he thought anything else was going to occur, he was being unlawful in an Islamic state. Luckily, he was sent home on the next plane and nothing worse.
I also wonder if PT has tickets for any games and how strong a football supporter he is, I guess no and not really to those questions.
The FIFA decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was made years ago, that was the time to campaign, it’s a little late now. Seeking who trousered a big bung from a country where coercion or inducement is often encouraged or overlooked may have been a better use of protesters actions and exploring the legality of the appointment at the time by investigative journalism may have been more worthwhile resulting perhaps in the World Cup being played in a more open-minded country.
However, what does sort of grate a little with me is why LGBTQ+ rights (you will notice I have added another letter to the earlier acronyms, but I will save my views on non-Binary topics for another blog) are even on this agenda for the World Cup.
If you feel that strongly about how you are described or your sexual preferences, I would have thought that knowing the laws of Qatar you would be saying, I ain’t going there, I will watch this one the TV……..
……that’s assuming you even like football, as from my experience there are very few of the LBGTQ+ supporters that even know the offside rule….another blog here we come….
