• Loading stock data...
Sunday, August 24, 2025
The biggest names in sports media. All in one room. Buy tickets now!

LGBT Fans Boycott World Cup As FIFA Stays Quiet

  • LGBT soccer fan groups are boycotting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
  • FIFA has been silent regarding the country’s alleged treatment of the LGBT community.
FIFA-World-Cup
FIFA

FIFA’s silence is pushing fans away from the 2022 World Cup.

LGBT soccer fan groups are boycotting the tournament — which takes place between Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 — due to FIFA’s stance regarding Qatar’s treatment of the LGBT community. Homosexuality is illegal in the country — and, if prosecuted, Muslims could face the death penalty.

The boycotts follow human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell’s claim that he was arrested after staging an LGBT protest in the country. Human Rights Watch also reported that as recently as September, security forces in Qatar arbitrarily arrested and abused Qataris in the LGBT community.

“I think for some people, the dissatisfaction with FIFA’s decision extends to opting to not watch the World Cup on TV, as a statement of principle,” said Andrew Tilly, a founder of Leeds United’s LGBT+ supporters group.

  • In May, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the tournament is expected to be watched by 5 billion people around the world. The 2018 World Cup in Russia was watched by 3.57 billion viewers.
  • Qatar anticipates around 1.2 million foreign visitors.

Last week, fans were warned by U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to “respect” Qatar despite its LGBT stance.

Deutschland Drama

Nancy Faeser, Germany’s interior minister, received criticism after stating that the hosts of events like the World Cup should be linked to certain criteria, “namely, compliance with human rights and principles of sustainability.” 

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry gave German ambassador Claudius Fischbach an objection memo to express its disappointment and demand clarification.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sofi Stadium

Los Angeles Olympics Will be First to Sell Venue Naming Rights

The decision breaks with a longstanding Olympic policy.

More Dildo Throwing During WNBA Games Leads to Second Arrest

The 18-year-old threw a dildo that hit another fan and his young niece.

Smelling Salts Not Banned in the NFL, but Teams Can’t Hand Them..

Teams are banned from supplying smelling salts to their players.

Featured Today

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks at quarterback Drew Allar (15) during the first quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Huntington Bank Stadium.
August 22, 2025

Private Equity Enters College Sports—Without the Equity

As college football starts, lending agreements have become PE’s best way in.
Jun 13, 2018; Moscow, Russia; A general view of a beer stand inside of Luschniki Stadium one day prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup 2018.

Saudi Arabia Says No Alcohol at 2034 World Cup

Saudi Arabia won’t allow alcohol anywhere during the 2034 World Cup.
Paralympics Tiktok
August 25, 2024

The Wildly Successful Paralympics TikTok Account Isn’t What You Think

A cheeky TikTok account is opening the world of Paralympic sports.
January 13, 2025

Gavin Newsom Reveals Status of 2028 Olympics As Los Angeles Wildfires Roar

Gavin Newsom says there’s a “Marshall Plan” to rebuild Los Angeles.
Sponsored

Building A Pro League From Scratch

Front Office Sports and Gainbridge® spotlight what it takes to build a professional women’s soccer league.
August 11, 2024

Passing of the Torch: Los Angeles Set for Olympic Firsts in 2028

The city last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1984.
August 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia Submits Bold World Cup Bid That Includes a Cliffside Arena

The Saudis are proposing a new stadium in a futuristic city called Neom.
John John Florence (USA) surfs in men’s round two competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach.
July 29, 2024

Olympic Surfers Won’t Get Their Full Paris Moment

‘We’re kind of separate off on our own little thing over here.’
Teahupo'o Tahiti Surfing
July 26, 2024

Olympic Surfing Crashes on Tahiti Like a Wave

For Teahupo‘o’s locals, the Olympics are a mixed blessing.