ENGLAND supporters are furious after football fans travelling to Qatar for the World Cup were given a shocking warning.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly was today slammed for dishing out advice to members of the LGBT community who are planning to head out to cheer on the Three Lions.
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by up to three years in prison.
When asked about gay fans heading over, Mr Cleverly today said: “One of the things I’d say to football fans is please do be respectful of the host nation.
“They’re trying to ensure that people can be themselves and enjoy the football…
“I think with a little bit of flex and compromise at both ends, it can be a safe and secure World Cup.”
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LGBT people and allies rushed to social media to slam the “disgusting” and “inconsiderate” comments.
One person fumed: “Apart from being totally the wrong tone, if I (god forbid) actually wanted to go and watch some football in Qatar with my male partner, I wouldn’t have the first idea what precisely we would need to ‘compromise’ on in order to not be arrested.
“Empty and offensive.”
Another added: “What does this even mean James Cleverly?
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“How exactly are LGBTQ football fans to compromise? And what compromises will Qatar be making?”
A third said: “I’m not remotely interested in football, but the idea that LGBTQ+ fans should ‘compromise’ their being in order to ‘respect’ an authoritarian regime which ignores human rights is appalling.
“James Cleverly, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
It comes after Qatar’s World Cup chief Nasser Al Khater insisted that gay supporters are able to hold hands throughout the showpiece – which runs from November 20 to December 18.
He was adamant that no gay persons would be discriminated against in this respect.
Al Khater added: “All we ask is for people to be respectful of the culture.
“At the end of the day, as long as you don’t do anything that harms other people, if you’re not destroying public property, as long as you’re behaving in a way that’s not harmful, then everybody’s welcome and you have nothing to worry about.”
Meanwhile heterosexual couples are also being warned about their behaviour.
Fans caught having one-night stands at Qatar 2022 could face jail as extra-marital affairs could lead to seven years behind bars.
Fifa have warned a hardline approach will be taken to ban casual sex at this winter’s tournament in the strict Arab country.
A UK-based police source told the Daily Star: “Sex is very much off the menu, unless you are coming as a husband and wife team.
“There definitely will be no one-night stands at this tournament.
“There will be no partying at all really.
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“Everyone needs to keep their heads about them, unless they want to risk being stuck in prison.
“There is essentially a sex ban in place at this year’s World Cup for the first time ever. Fans need to be prepared.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
