• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

FIFA’s Anti-Discrimination Taskforce Seeks to Pressure Russia and Qatar Over Anti-gay Laws

September 9, 2013 by Kyler Geoffroy

As businesses, organizations, and high profile individuals continue to voice their opposition to LGBT human rights abuses in Russia, it seems increasingly clear that 'anti-gay' is becoming an undesirable label for countries to hold, at least from an economic and public relations perspective.

The Guardian reports that with the World Cup scheduled to take place in Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 respectively, FIFA's new anti-discrimination taskforce is joining in the fight to ensure those nations are held accountable for their anti-gay laws:

Piara PowarPiara Powar (pictured), the director of Football Against Racism in Europe and a member of the taskforce along with the former FA chairman David Bernstein, said it would raise the issue at a meeting this week.

"Qatar is one of the few countries where homosexuality is still illegal and there are also big challenges in terms of the new law in Russia in regard to the World Cup," he said.

"Qatar wants to host the tournament at the start of a new decade, they will want to present an internationally welcoming face and with FIFA's help we are sure it will be possible to win over the Qataris so that they come into line with the rest of the world, including other countries in the Gulf and Middle East and change the law on homosexuality.

"These are issues of civil rights, fans and players of all races, religions and sexuality need to feel comfortable going to the World Cups in both Russia and Qatar. It is going to be quite a challenge but we have to make sure that football becomes the vehicle for social change that we claim it is. This is a big issue."

While the taskforce is eager to begin work combating anti-gay discrimination, FIFA's leadership seems less enthusiastic. FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who refused to comment on the issue at the ongoing International Olympic Committee session in Buenos Aires, sparked a firestorm in 2011 when he joked that gay people should "refrain from sexual activity" during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

[photo credit: Matthew Ashton/EMPICS]

Filed Under: News, Qatar, Russia Tagged With: gay rights, Gay Rights, News, Qatar, Russia, world cup, World Cup

Recent Posts

  • Enrique Tarrio, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, Kristen Stewart as Lady Di, Pence Couch-Surfing, Elliot Page, Hydroxychloroquine: HOT LINKS

    Enrique Tarrio, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, Kristen Stewart as Lady Di, Pence Couch-Surfing, Elliot Page, Hydroxychloroquine: HOT LINKS

    4 hours ago
  • QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Stalks and Taunts Parkland Shooting Survivor David Hogg in Disturbing Video: WATCH

    QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Stalks and Taunts Parkland Shooting Survivor David Hogg in Disturbing Video: WATCH

    7 hours ago
  • FOX News’ Maria Bartiromo Cries to Josh Hawley Over Her Loss of More Than 100K Twitter Followers Since the Election: WATCH

    FOX News’ Maria Bartiromo Cries to Josh Hawley Over Her Loss of More Than 100K Twitter Followers Since the Election: WATCH

    9 hours ago
  • Lady Gaga Shares Video of Gay Nightclub in ‘COVID-Free’ Australia Partying to Chromatica: WATCH

    Lady Gaga Shares Video of Gay Nightclub in ‘COVID-Free’ Australia Partying to Chromatica: WATCH

    9 hours ago
Previous Post: « Russian Journalist Announces Campaign to Out Closeted Anti-gay Lawmakers in Russia
Next Post: What to Watch on TV This Week: ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Returns, Southern Charm on ‘Project Runway’ »

Primary Sidebar

  • Enrique Tarrio, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, Kristen Stewart as Lady Di, Pence Couch-Surfing, Elliot Page, Hydroxychloroquine: HOT LINKS

  • QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Stalks and Taunts Parkland Shooting Survivor David Hogg in Disturbing Video: WATCH

  • FOX News’ Maria Bartiromo Cries to Josh Hawley Over Her Loss of More Than 100K Twitter Followers Since the Election: WATCH

Recent Posts

  • Enrique Tarrio, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, Kristen Stewart as Lady Di, Pence Couch-Surfing, Elliot Page, Hydroxychloroquine: HOT LINKS

    Enrique Tarrio, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, Kristen Stewart as Lady Di, Pence Couch-Surfing, Elliot Page, Hydroxychloroquine: HOT LINKS

    4 hours ago
  • QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Stalks and Taunts Parkland Shooting Survivor David Hogg in Disturbing Video: WATCH

    QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Stalks and Taunts Parkland Shooting Survivor David Hogg in Disturbing Video: WATCH

    7 hours ago
  • FOX News’ Maria Bartiromo Cries to Josh Hawley Over Her Loss of More Than 100K Twitter Followers Since the Election: WATCH

    FOX News’ Maria Bartiromo Cries to Josh Hawley Over Her Loss of More Than 100K Twitter Followers Since the Election: WATCH

    9 hours ago
  • Lady Gaga Shares Video of Gay Nightclub in ‘COVID-Free’ Australia Partying to Chromatica: WATCH

    Lady Gaga Shares Video of Gay Nightclub in ‘COVID-Free’ Australia Partying to Chromatica: WATCH

    9 hours ago
  • NYPD Seeks Information on Suspect Who Punched Man, Said ‘I’m Gonna Kill You, You F—king Homo’

    NYPD Seeks Information on Suspect Who Punched Man, Said ‘I’m Gonna Kill You, You F—king Homo’

    10 hours ago
  • Giuliani’s Cuckoo Election Fraud Witness Melissa Carone is Running for Office

    Giuliani’s Cuckoo Election Fraud Witness Melissa Carone is Running for Office

    10 hours ago
  • Senate Panel Holds Confirmation Hearing for Transportation Secretary Nominee Pete Buttigieg: WATCH LIVE

    Senate Panel Holds Confirmation Hearing for Transportation Secretary Nominee Pete Buttigieg: WATCH LIVE

    10 hours ago
  • Sean Hannity Accuses Democrats of Inciting the Insurrection, Says He’s Considering Joining COVID Anti-Vaxxers: WATCH

    Sean Hannity Accuses Democrats of Inciting the Insurrection, Says He’s Considering Joining COVID Anti-Vaxxers: WATCH

    10 hours ago
  • Transphobic, Insurrection-Supporting Former MLB Pitcher Curt Schilling Wants Off Ballot After ‘Hall of Fame’ Rejection, Defends His Character in Facebook Post

    Transphobic, Insurrection-Supporting Former MLB Pitcher Curt Schilling Wants Off Ballot After ‘Hall of Fame’ Rejection, Defends His Character in Facebook Post

    11 hours ago
  • QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Indicated Support for Executing Nancy Pelosi and Other Democrats in Social Media Posts

    QAnon GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Indicated Support for Executing Nancy Pelosi and Other Democrats in Social Media Posts

    12 hours ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Log in