An LGBT charity in Belfast has criticised British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly for telling football fans to moderate their behaviour at the World Cup in Qatar.
On Wednesday, Mr Cleverly told LGBT football fans they should show "a little bit of flex and compromise" and to "respect the culture of your host nation."
John O'Doherty, Director of the Rainbow Project, told the Irish News: “The statement by the Foreign Secretary is further evidence, if it was needed, that this Government has does not care about the LGBTQIA+ community – at home or abroad.
"The Foreign Secretary made no effort to condemn or highlight the violence experienced by LGBTQIA+ people in Qatar – nor to challenge its atrocious human rights records. Sport should be for everyone and this government should be working to ensure the safety of all UK citizens when attending the World Cup.”
The BBC's Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker also questioned the government advice, commenting on Twitter: "Whatever you do, don’t do anything gay. Is that the message?"
The Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi later played down Mr Clerverly's comments, telling LBC Radio: “I would say you should not compromise on your identity or your sexuality or your sexual preference in any way. Of course you are safe to go to the World Cup. No one should have to compromise at all in my view.
“I am very proud of what we have done in the UK. We use every opportunity when we engage with the Qatari government to share with them how we do things here.
“They have had a different historical journey but football is a celebration of diversity. I am sure the Qataris completely understand this as well.
“No one should need to compromise on their sexuality or their preference whatsoever.”
In an interview with LBC Radio, the Foreign Secretary had said: “I have spoken to the Qatari authorities in the past about gay football fans going to watch the World Cup and how they will treat our fans and international fans.
“They want to make sure that football fans are safe, secure and enjoy themselves, and they know that that means they are going to have to make some compromises in terms of what is an Islamic country with a very different set of cultural norms to our own.
“One of the things I would say for football fans is, you know, please do be respectful of the host nation.
“They are trying to ensure that people can be themselves and enjoy the football, and I think with a little bit of flex and compromise at both ends, it can be a safe, secure and exciting World Cup.”
The Veteran LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell said he was arrested in Qatar on Tuesday - where homosexuality is illegal - and "subjected to interrogation" after staging a protest outside the National Museum in Qatar.
He has since been released and called on the UK to “condemn the appalling human rights abuses carried out daily by the Qatari regime”.
Qatar’s government communications office said “no arrests were made” and that “rumours on social media that a representative from the Peter Tatchell Foundation has been arrested in Qatar are completely false and without merit”.
