Former England captain David Beckham has been the target of severe criticism from an LGBT+ fans group for his decision to become a paid ambassador for the Qatar World Cup.
Preparations for the tournament are close to being finalised with the opening match between the hosts and Ecuador scheduled to take place in just 10 days’ time. A number of prominent former players have been promoting the World Cup itself despite an array of contentious issues - ex England captain Beckham being among those.
The nation’s criminalisation of homosexuality, as well as major human rights violations, have led to many to criticise the awarding of the tournament. Di Cunningham, co-founder of Three Lions Pride, has criticised ambassadors including Beckham for their role in promotion of the World Cup.
She said: “One of the difficulties we're having is people taking the money in order to promote Qatar, to promote the World Cup.
“We're just so disappointed because the LGBTQ+ community has had David Beckham on a pedestal as a great ally, and then it turns out he's an ambassador for this World Cup and that's incredibly disappointing. So I hope the message has got through that people will be criticised for that.”
Beckham is not the only one to have been forced to face backlash ahead of the World Cup. Former Manchester United colleague Gary Neville has also been criticised ahead of the tournament.
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He has agreed to be a pundit for state broadcaster beIN SPORTS for the tournament. The ex-defender was the target of ridicule having been a guest host on the BBC ’s Have I Got News For You.
Elsewhere, amid their criticism for Beckham, the Three Lions Pride group have also announced that they will not be offering their support over in Qatar due to concerns over their safety despite assurances from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Qatar's Supreme Committee.
She said: “Three Lions Pride will not be travelling to this World Cup, mainly because we understand from our counterparts in Qatar that our presence would render them vulnerable to systematic, institutional and potentially vigilante abuse.
“We're hearing what seems to be a kind of robotic insistence that all will be well, that we'll be safe, that we will be welcomed, but it's not backed by evidence or documented plans.
“There's no sign, as there was in Russia (at the 2018 World Cup), of any kind of appetite to relax or review the toxic environment there is for LGBTQ+ and other minority groups.
“It's wrong on so many levels. It was wrong when the decision was made, and it's still very, very wrong. There's not been any progress and just vocal reassurance from FIFA and from the Supreme Committee… it's just not enough.”
