An ambassador for the World Cup in Qatar has described homosexuality as "damage in the mind". Former Qatari footballer Khalid Salman's comments came just two weeks before the tournament begins in the Gulf state.
Salman told a German public broadcaster that being gay is “haram”, or forbidden in Arabic, and that he has a problem with children seeing gay people. Excerpts of the television interview were shown on Monday night on ZDF’s news programme Heute Journal.
The choice of Qatar to host the tournament has been a controversial one ever since it was made by FIFA back in 2010. And the gas-rich emirate's treatment of LGBTQ+ people has been a source of concern to many critics.
In the interview, Mr Salman said that homosexuality “is a spiritual harm”. Speaking in English, he said: “During the World Cup, many things will come here to the country. Let’s talk about gays.
“The most important thing is, everybody will accept that they come here. But they will have to accept our rules." The interview was cut short by a press officer of the World Cup organising committee, according to ZDF.
About 1.2 million international visitors are expected in Qatar for the month-long tournament.
