The head of security for the 2022 World Cup has indicated that LGBT supporters, who will attend the event, will have to exercise discretion.
“Don’t come and insult an entire society.” In an interview with the AP news agency in early April, Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari advised fans not to show signs of their gender. They will have to avoid showing signs of their gender in public to respect the conservative culture of the small emirate, where “public displays of affection are frowned upon.”
Rainbow flags could be taken from fans at the World Cup to protect them from being attacked for promoting gay rights, a Qatari general told The Associated Press.
by @RobHarrishttps://t.co/WH7Zlgep6w
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) April 1, 2022
“If a supporter waves a rainbow flag in a stadium and it is taken away from him, it will not be because we want to offend him, but to protect him, he explained, stressing that it was not discriminatory. If we don’t, another bystander could attack him. If you want to express your point of view concerning the LGBT cause, do it in a society where it will be accepted.
Fans will simply have to come and respect the local culture. “If you buy a ticket, it is to attend a football match and not to demonstrate. So don’t come and insult an entire society. We cannot change the laws or the religion for the twenty-eight days of the World Cup”, detailed Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari.
As a reminder, the 2022 World Cup takes place in winter this year from November 21 to December 18.