Emerging reports have it that members of the LGBTQI community will be allowed to openly hold hands, cuddle and kiss during the World Cup in Qatar.
There are however fears that once the World Cup is over, gay couples in the country will be fished out and punished anyway.
According to Mail Online, FIFA held secret meetings with Qatar’s Interior Ministry and urged it to stop it’s law enforcement agents from arresting gay supporters at the World Cup.
This comes after it was rumoured that undercover spies will hide among fans at the world cup and arrest gay offenders as public displays of affection is illegal in the Arab state.
Speaking through her office manager, a lesbian secretary told Mail Online:
‘The World Cup has given us the protection we need for maybe a month.
‘But you will find very few Qatari gay and lesbian people who will believe there will be no repercussions after the World Cup is over.
‘There may not be trouble while football is here, but they will catch up with Qatari people after, beat and jail us for what they see as shaming the country.’
‘As a lesbian woman, I will enjoy the World Cup like other fans, but you won’t see me hugging my girlfriend in Doha. No way.
‘We will keep our relationship private like many others here.
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has warned England and Wales supporters to respect the law and culture of Qatar.
‘These are Muslim countries; they have a very different cultural starting point (from ours).
‘I think it’s important when you’re a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation.’
