LGBT fan groups have slammed the FA for asking England captain Harry Kane to not wear the ‘One Love’ armband during the World Cup in Qatar due to the risk of FIFA imposing sanctions.
Kane, along with captains of several other national teams, has chosen not to wear the armband after it was revealed the ban was against FIFA’s strict dress code.
Any player who chose to defy FIFA’s ruling would be cautioned with a yellow card. Consecutive yellow cards result in an automatic ban for the next match.
The armband aimed to show support towards the LGBT community. In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal.
FA chief exec Mark Bullingham admitted the threat of a ban made the team reconsider their actions.
“We’ve been clear that we want to wear the armband it is important to us, but equally we need to work through all of the discussions right now and see where we end up”, he said to the media.
“That’s what we are working through right now, we’ve had meetings this morning FIFA and discussion are carrying on.”
“As I’ve said we are very keen to wear the armband, we want to do it, but obviously we need to consider the implications.”
“Normally in this type of situation, there is a fine. We’d be prepared to pay the fine because we think it’s important to show our support for inclusion.”
It comes after an international debate surrounding the controversy as to how Qatar acquired the right to host the World Cup in the first place, as well as Qatari culture and its treatment of migrant workers, LGBT citizens and women.
LGBT arrogance won’t end well
If there was ever an example of how arrogant and authoritarian LGBT lobbies can be, this is it.
Qatar is by no means a perfect country – no country is – but there are aspects of the criticism that seem to be rooted in an existential crisis from certain LGBT lobbies.
Qatar is a conservative Muslim country. As such, their laws will reflect Islamic culture and values.
Qatar has strict laws regarding not just homosexuality, but other forbidden sexual acts such as fornication, adultery and children being born to unmarried parents. Public displays of affection – straight or gay – is frowned upon.
Questions have been raised regarding the balance between free will and the ‘morality police’, but ultimately, it’s an Islamic country. What you see is what you get.
Did the LGBT community really expect Qatar to suspend their laws (and by extension, their religion) to suit them? Did they hope their campaigns would undermine the religion and culture of a sovereign nation?
Laws don’t necessarily have to be respected, but they will be obeyed regardless. Criticising a country’s laws is fine, but bluntly telling a country what to do shows a misplaced, self-inflated sense of importance and relevance.
One could argue that the LGBT lobbies are simply not used to not getting their way, and so they have no option but to defame and slander a sovereign nation.
Not only is Qatar a sovereign nation, but crucially they possess the world’s third-largest oil reserves. It is estimated the country has enough to fuel the planet for the next two centuries.
This puts them in a very privileged position; one where they cannot be easily bullied, manipulated or dictated to by foreign powers.
Therefore, LGBT lobbies are not in a position where they can demand – not ask or request – respect or ideological conformation, as they have so often been in Western societies.
What happens now?
Qatar’s laws continue to be protested against by Western media and public figures, whilst Qatari fans have hit back at the perceived hypocrisy from the West.
After the German national team held their hands over their mouths, in a protest against FIFA, Qatar fans held up photos of German midfielder Mesut Ozil.
The former Arsenal and Germany midfielder ended his international career after he claimed he was made a scapegoat for Germany’s group stage exit in the 2018 World Cup.
“I will no longer be playing for Germany at the international level whilst I have this feeling of racism and disrespect”, Ozil said at the time.
“When high-ranking DFB officials treat me as they did, disrespect my Turkish roots and selfishly turn me into political propaganda, then enough is enough.”
A pitch invader was caught by officials after wearing a t-shirt which read ‘Respect for Iranian women’ whilst holding a Pride flag.
International debate is expected to continue during and after this edition of the World Cup.
