Liverpool assured that LGBT fans will be welcome at the Club World Cup in Qatar
Homosexual acts are prohibited in Qatar, although the law is rarely enforced
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore says the club have been given assurances by Qatari authorities that their LGBT supporters will be welcomed in the Gulf state for next month’s Fifa Club World Cup.
Qatari officials had met with Liverpool supporters groups, including the LGBT group ‘Kop Outs!’ to discuss their concerns about attending the tournament which runs from 11-21 December.
Homosexual acts are prohibited in Qatar, although the law is rarely enforced.
“We have received assurances that our LGBT supporters will be welcome in Qatar, something that was vitally important to us as a club, given our long-standing commitment to both diversity and equality,” Moore told the club’s website.
The Club World Cup is a trial event for the full World Cup which will be held in Qatar in 2022.
Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organising committee, has previously said that fans of all gender orientation would be welcomed in the country which is governed by Islamic-based legal codes.
Moore said Liverpool, who as European champions will feature in the December 18 semi-final and then the final or third-placed game three days later in Doha, had held talks on a number of issues.
“We have sought and received information on match tickets, hotel provisions, stadium readiness, safety issues, cultural matters and a whole host of other issues. No stone has been left unturned,” he said.
However, Moore said that while assurances were welcome it was not the club’s role to dictate terms to the Qataris.
“I think it is important that we have to have the humility... that we are a football club first, second and last. We are not a political organisation and it is neither our place or our ambition to go from country to country forcing our values and our beliefs on others,” he said.
“If the involvement of our football club, or any other football club, for that matter, helps prompts positive change then I would be the first to welcome that, but that shouldn’t be the measurement of our involvement.”
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments