FA demands LGBT safety after backing Saudi Arabia World Cup

18 comments

1. ***The Telegraph reports***:

   The Football Association backed the Saudi Arabia World Cup after directly demanding in recent weeks that LGBT England fans would not be arrested.

   As Fifa was accused by human-rights groups of presiding over a “sham”, the FA said it secured assurances that protections will be met in Riyadh. 

   On Wednesday, home nations were among more than 200 governing bodies to wave through Saudi 2034 and the three-continental bid led by Morocco, Spain and Portugal for 2030.

   Amnesty International and 20 other human-rights organisations immediately published a joint statement condemning a “moment of great danger” for human rights. “At every stage of this bidding process, Fifa has shown its commitment to human rights to be a sham,” Amnesty added.

   With homosexuality a crime in Saudi Arabia, the FA said it had met the kingdom’s football federation before backing the bid. The authority for English football said it had conducted “a careful review” of both the 2030 and 2034 unopposed bids, which were “technically strong”.

   “Our focus is on ensuring that all our fans can attend and enjoy tournaments,” the FA added in a statement sent to *Telegraph Sport*. “The FA Board met the Saudi Arabian Football Federation last month to discuss their bid in more detail. We asked them to commit to ensuring all fans would be safe and welcome in Saudi Arabia in 2034 – including LGBTQ+ fans. They assured us that they are fully committed to providing a safe and welcome environment for all fans.”

   Having called for the tournaments to be approved by the “acclamation” of applause rather than a physical vote, Gianni Infantino, Fifa’s president, said the verdict had been “loud and clear”.

   But Wednesday’s meeting in Zurich – with nations only able to call in via video link – was essentially a formality, Saudi Arabia knowing for a year that it was guaranteed the tournament.

   **Full story:** [**https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/12/11/saudi-arabia-2034-world-cup-reaction-fa-backing/**](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/12/11/saudi-arabia-2034-world-cup-reaction-fa-backing/)

2. Good luck with that. It’s not gonna happen.

3. Event like the World Cup should not be given to far-right slave states.

4. Best I can do is a vague apology after the tournament and change nothing. Take it or leave it.

5. Crazy it’s over there, but only one reason of course.

6. They’ve got the money, LGBT can stfu

7. Maybe they should have demanded this BEFORE backing Saudi for world Cup

8. Maybe the various FAs who have an issue should just refuse to send a team. Play the qualifiers, get the spot and then reject it. Cup spots will go to nations who didn’t earn it and the tournament will be a joke.

9. I don’t think I’d go there as a woman, not even factoring in that I’m bi.

10. I’ll be outraged by this in 10 years

11. So our football controlling body has been bought.

12. Can they promote polygamy in western countries? Have flags, tell everyone to wear a band and have a whole month to flaunt it?

13. This amused me more than it should 😁

14. Not all cultures are equal.

15. Surely it’s meant to be the other way round? Make demands, have them satisfied *and then* pledge support.

16. So, do we like other cultures or not?

17. FA still corrupt I see

18. FA/FIFA Armband chaos is BAD.. also FA/FIFA woop Saudi human rights abuser world cup!

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