Qatar’s 2022 World Cup President: there is no threat to the LGBTIQ+ community in our country. But don’t come out in public

In November 2022, the World Cup will be held in Qatar, which is causing a lot of controversy. It all started with how Qatar got to host the event in the first place, then thousands of workers died building stadiums, and now it’s back to whether LGBTIQ+ people will be allowed into the country.

The championship will unconventionally kick off in the winter, with all world football suspended from November to December 2022 and all eyes fixed solely on Qatar.

It will be played in several multi-complex stadiums, which have already seen over 6,000 workers die in their construction. When players from Germany, Norway and the Netherlands tried to point this out, nothing happened.

The next question is how Qatar will receive visitors. It is already clear that only those who have been vaccinated will be allowed to enter the country. But what about LGBTIQ+ members? After all, homosexuality is not allowed in the Emirates.

This is what Nasser Al-Khater, president of the organization that organizes the championship, tried to explain.

“LGBTIQ+ members have the right to enter the country and attend matches. I promise that all visitors to the championship will be safe regardless of their sexual orientation or culture,” Nasser Al-Khater announced in an interview with CNN on Monday.

But the goodwill of Qatari officials has one condition. LGBTIQ+ members are not allowed to show their homosexuality in public.

“Qatar and neighbouring countries are much more reserved and we ask everyone to respect that. We are confident that they can do it, just as we respect other cultures, that they will respect ours,” explains Al-Khater.

Recently, Australian Josh Cavallo was the first professional footballer to come out publicly about his homosexuality. He has also said he is afraid to go to Qatar, but Al-Khater urges him otherwise.

“On the contrary, we will be happy to welcome him here and let him come and get to know our country before the World Cup. No one feels threatened here. I believe this perception of danger is due to the many accusations and reports that cast a negative light on the country,” the organisation’s president added.

Source: Marca, CNN