Monday, November 8th, 2021
“Life is more important than a career”
Homosexual professional is afraid of the World Cup in Qatar
The Australian Josh Cavallo is making headlines around the world with his coming out at the end of October. The 21-year-old footballer fears that he could be blamed for a possible World Cup participation in Qatar. They are cosmopolitan there. A first stress test for this could be done at the end of the month.
The homosexual soccer professional Josh Cavallo would shy away from participating in the 2022 World Cup because of “fear”. “I’ve read about them sentencing gays to death in Qatar. That’s something I’m afraid of and why I wouldn’t want to go to Qatar,” said the Australian on the Guardian newspaper’s “Today in Focus” podcast. .
The fact that these thoughts occur to him in view of the human rights situation in the desert state makes him “sad”, added Cavallo, who has already played for the Socceroos U20. He asked himself, “Isn’t my life more important than my career?”
In Qatar, homosexuals face several years in prison, and the country is one of the most dangerous countries on earth for people from the LGBT scene. Under Sharia law, death sentences for homosexuals are theoretically possible, although according to human rights organizations this has not yet happened in Qatar. The World Cup OK has already emphasized that every fan is welcome at the finals. Rainbow flags should also be allowed in the stadiums.
Formula 1 as a stress test
Qatar will be in the international spotlight by the end of the month. Then the Formula 1 circus will make a guest appearance in the desert state. For the controversial debut of the racing series on the Losail International Circuit, the organizer had assured the pilots freedom of expression last week.
“The drivers are free to express their opinion on contentious issues,” said Qatar’s Motorsport Association President Abdulrahman Al Mannai: “We are happy to support the drivers in expressing opinions on their platforms. For us in Qatar, this is not an issue because they are are free to say whatever they want to say. ”
The announcement should have met with interest in the paddock. Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel were particularly noticeable there with their clear statements. The British world champion and one of his predecessors have been campaigning against racism and for more diversity for a long time. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, for example, the German also set an example for diversity with rainbow colors on his helmet. “I find it embarrassing for a country that is in the EU to have such laws or to vote on them,” said the 2010 to 2013 world champion.