Fans of soccer—and equality—are hopping mad around the world after Sepp Blatter, the president of the 2022 World Cup governing body, advised that gays and lesbians just shouldn’t have sex if they’re in attendance. The Cup will be hosted in Qatar, which forbids same-sex relationships by law.
Of course, the president went on to speak about how football is a game that is open and free, and does not discriminate. As Blatter said, “We are living in a world of freedom and when the World Cup will be in Qatar, this will be in 2022. And you can see in the Middle East the opening of this culture. It is another culture because it is another religion, but in football we have no boundaries.”
Some advocates are challenging FIFA’s decision to host the World Cup finals in a country like Qatar in the first place, and this is only adding to the fire. John Amaech, a former NBA basketball player who came out as gay after his 2007 retirement, was critical of FIFA in a blog post.
“…with little more than an afterthought, FIFA has endorsed the marginalization of LGBT people around the world,” Amaech wrote. “If sport cannot serve to change society, even temporarily during the duration of an event like the World Cup, then it is little more than grown men chasing a ball and we should treat it as such.”
We know people have to plan things in advance, but we're hoping things are all worked out by 2022.
(More Sex Feed)
Of course, the president went on to speak about how football is a game that is open and free, and does not discriminate. As Blatter said, “We are living in a world of freedom and when the World Cup will be in Qatar, this will be in 2022. And you can see in the Middle East the opening of this culture. It is another culture because it is another religion, but in football we have no boundaries.”
Some advocates are challenging FIFA’s decision to host the World Cup finals in a country like Qatar in the first place, and this is only adding to the fire. John Amaech, a former NBA basketball player who came out as gay after his 2007 retirement, was critical of FIFA in a blog post.
“…with little more than an afterthought, FIFA has endorsed the marginalization of LGBT people around the world,” Amaech wrote. “If sport cannot serve to change society, even temporarily during the duration of an event like the World Cup, then it is little more than grown men chasing a ball and we should treat it as such.”
We know people have to plan things in advance, but we're hoping things are all worked out by 2022.
(More Sex Feed)
Comments