England’s World Cup stars boarded a plane called ‘Rain Bow’ on Tuesday morning as they headed to Qatar, in an early act of World Cup defiance.
Gareth Southgate’s men departed from Birmingham Airport on a chartered flight with Virgin Atlantic, to head to the Middle East as they prepare to set up camp just outside the capital, Doha.
Among the criticism of the hosts is the country’s oppressive laws and treatment of LGBT+ people. Anyone found participating in same-sex sexual activity in Qatar can be punished by up to seven years in prison.