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THE TAOISEACH HAS said that there cannot be “any inhibition” for LGBT people to travel to the World Cup in Qatar.
It comes after comments made by the British foreign secretary James Cleverly, who said that LGBT football fans should be “respectful of the host nation”if they visit the country to attend the World Cup.
Cleverly urged fans to show “a little bit of flex and compromise” and to “respect the culture of your host nation”.
His comments sparked a wave of backlash, including from veteran LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was questioned by police in Qatar yesterday after staging a one-man LGBT rights protest.
Asked about Cleverly’s comments by The Journal, Micheál Martin said: “There can’t be any inhibition for people, in respect of sexual orientation or for any reason, to travel to Qatar to attend the World Cup, there cannot be and that must be made clear to the authorities, that that will not be tolerated.”
Ireland did not qualify for this year’s tournament, which kicks off on 20 November, but some Irish fans may still travel to watch other teams compete.
The World Cup has been shrouded in controversy since Qatar was awarded the tournament 12 years ago.
Same-sex marriage is prohibited in the country, and same-sex sexual activity is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Tatchell heavily criticised Cleverly’s advice to British football fans, and said going to the event is “colluding with a homophobic, sexist and racist regime”.
“The UK Government must use its public voice to condemn the appalling human rights abuses carried out daily by the Qatari regime,” he said.
“Unless we all speak out, Qatar will have achieved its goal of sports washing its appalling reputation during the World Cup. Mr Cleverly has an opportunity to highlight the abuses being carried out by the regime.
“All fans, not just LGBTs, should boycott the World Cup and use their social media to amplify the shocking human rights abuses by the Qatari state. Going to the World Cup is colluding with a homophobic, sexist and racist regime.”
Last night, Australia’s football team became the first to release a collective statement condemning Qatar’s human rights abuses.
A message from our @Socceroos on the @FIFAWorldCup #SupportingThePlayers pic.twitter.com/bUqW2pne1w
— Professional Footballers Australia (@thepfa) October 26, 2022
Sixteen members of the men’s team — the Socceroos — appeared in a short video explaining their position.
“We have learned that the decision to host the World Cup in Qatar has resulted in the suffering and harm of countless of our fellow workers,” said Jackson Irvine, a one-time Celtic midfielder.
The players acknowledged Qatar’s attempts to improve working conditions for migrants but said these changes had been “inconsistent”.
Governing body Football Australia also released a statement critical of Qatar’s human rights record.
“We acknowledge the significant progress and legislative reforms (that) have occurred in Qatar over recent years to recognise and protect the rights of workers, and we encourage all stakeholders to continue this path to reform,” it said.
“However, we have also learned that the tournament has been associated with suffering for some migrant workers and their families and this cannot be ignored.”
Captains from a number of leading European football nations — including England, France and Germany — will wear armbands with rainbow colours and the message “One Love” in an anti-discrimination campaign during the tournament.
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When you’re in another country, you should respect their laws and their customs. It doesn’t matter if you agree with them or not. Of course, it works both ways.
It’s interesting because you’d think that no one in history would have been against the woke’s calls for Race-Neutral Toilets in America. But then you see comments like this saying “respect their laws and customs”.
Would you have been one of those calling for people to “respect the laws” of segregation in America, because you were not within a certain border line?
@Patricia Thomond Sarsfield: Their laws are discriminatory to certain people, very hard to respect that!
@Patricia Thomond Sarsfield: the games should never have been given to this country in the first place.
@Shane De Paor: The best way to withhold respect is refusal to enter the country.
@Dean: using that logic, you should be able to into a mosque, and consume a large bottle of whiskey, because you don’t agree with their silly little outdated laws.
@Patricia Thomond Sarsfield: In general yes, but if you’re a country hosting a major international event then some quite large degree of tolerance for the unusual behaviour of foreigners is in order because most of the people are there for the event and have no interest in the country hosting it.
@james s: That’s an unreasonable extension, however if the mosque were to plan hosting an important event at which drinking normally takes place and can be expected then it would be reasonable to expect the mosque to make an exception or refuse to host the event.
@Patricia Thomond Sarsfield: so would you respect the fact that you wouldn’t be allowed to attend world cup games without the expressed permission of your husband? Discrimination should never be respected in any for, whether its the law of the land or not.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: exactly that, they signed up to hosting the FIFA World Cup, an enormous international competition, they’re inviting the world in, we could’ve (should’ve) staged this elsewhere, they need to bend or navel gaze and admit they’re just a discriminating bunch that exploits Labourers to the point of death.
James, you’re equating Human Rights Abuses to that of a non- Human Rights Abuse issue. It’s also not even the same logic.
But is that a yes, you would have been one of those who were complicit in this rule of law by actively telling people to respect the country’s laws of enslavement, to respect that non-whites are segregated from the white toilets, that rosa parks must be segregated, that this is their customs albeit harmful, and after all you are in the unimaginable situation of respecting their laws of not drinking a bottle of whiskey in a certain building?
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: I never really associated football (soccer) and the LGBT community, come to think of it, football has had a terrible history when it comes to the LGBTQ community.
@Patricia Thomond Sarsfield: yes you should respect another countries laws when they pertain to things such as speed limits, traffic laws, weapons and so on and so forth. But when it’s rules literally making people in breach of the law for simply being themselves or laws making it illegal to show any form of intimacy or love to your partner then it’s not so easy to say let’s respect the country in question because Qatar clearly has no respect for LGBTQ people
@Dean: when toilet segregation ended in the USA in 1964, homosexuality was a criminal offence in Ireland and it remained so until it was finally decriminalised in 1993.
Ireland since the formation of the state up until the child abuse revelations of the 1980′s was a fundamental christian state, with well documented mistreatment of women, children and minorities, including the LBGT community, not only at the extremes, but as part and parcel of normal daily life and it was supported by the vast majority or at the very least not objected to, on any grounds, including the fact that Ireland was an extremely repressive state, when compared with the rest of Europe.
But the truth is that in Ireland from the formation of the state until the late 1980′s, religious doctrine ruled with absolute power.
Qatar may operate under strict islam, but the parallels with the Ireland of the past under strict Catholicism are plain to be seen and the lack of willingness to adopt a more open attitude on these topics, or to change their current postion on how LGBT community is treated in Qatar is about the same as it was in Ireland under the Bishops.
There is far too much politics in sport these days, particularly football.
@Celtic Eagle: You’re right, really shouldn’t matter who you are if you enjoy watching sport.
The British foreign secretary was clearly giving a warning that one must follow the rules when in Qatar. Going down there to make a point, or push an agenda outside the very strict Qatari laws is going to end very badly. The EU/UK arms trade to Qatar was worth about $7BN in the last three years so no one is going to rock the boat getting you back
There is no way the world cup finals should be played there.
Telling LGBTQ people to be respectful of Qatar when their government and laws actively promote discrimination and homophobia against this community is incorrect. Using culture and religion as an excuse to discriminate against members of society based on their sexual orientation is wrong and is not a valid excuse. At the end of the day this country should have never been selected on numerous grounds. Their big budget and brown envelopes bought the tournament.
@Shane De Paor: your right in the money there…wouldn’t go myself it I’d be like u agree with what they do .. boycott boycott
They are both right in a way. Yes you shouldn’t have to hide who you are but also remember where you are and give respect to the local population
Hold on a cotton-pickin minute! Discrimination is it? Over the years my wife and I visited a number of Middle Eastern countries. At night, when we, without even being consicously aware of it, held hands as we walked; invariably a courteous man would catch my attention & point at our hands & we knew to not do it again. On the other hand men (approx age groups 18 – 25) were allowed to hold hands, put their arms around each others shoulders & females (similar age group) held hands as they walked. All quite acceptable. Why were we as heterosexuals discriminated against? Answer? Culture.
Should have added in my previous comment that Irish men play Afghanistan in cricket tomorrow .Belfast I think .Will anyone be there to protest for the Afgani women .This T20 thing has been ongoing since July .It was an opportunity to show those women they are not completely forgotten
There has been huge publicity around this issue and the Australian team has been v upfront about their opposition to Qatar.as a venue ..On the other The afghani men’s team is travelling the globe playin cricket in yhe T20 while their women are in lockdown at home .Not a peep from anyone to show any support whatsoever for those poor Afghani women who are totallu enslaved .
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He can they’re “can’t be” but there will be!! No getting away from that fact – if a country like this is stupidly chosen that’s part of what has been chosen!
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