Pubs and bars in Leeds are taking a stance against Qatar’s human rights issues and LGBTQ+ laws by refusing to show the World Cup.
The men’s FIFA World Cup kicks off on Sunday, November 20 with the competition facing its fair share of controversy because of Qatar’s highly-publicised rules and laws. This includes a the country’s human rights issues and same sex relationships stance.
Qatar has laws banning same-sex relationships, and those found guilty can face the death sentence or lengthy spells in jail. Many pubs in Leeds have now decided not to show the World Cup as a result.
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One of those include The Key Club based in Leeds city centre. A spokesperson said: “We have decided to cancel the upcoming England matches which we had planned to show at The Key Club.
“We wanted to create a safe space where people felt comfortable watching the football. However, after careful deliberation and upon further research, we now understand it is best to cancel the upcoming events in response to the ongoing human rights and LGBTQ+ issues surrounding the hoist nation.
“The Key Club is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space and so we hope you all stand by our decision. As an additional mark of our support we will be collecting donations for LGBTQ+ charities at upcoming events at The Key Club.”
Another venue in the city centre taking a similar approach is Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen. A spokesperson said: “After some further thought and discussion, we've decided to cancel all screenings of the upcoming World Cup at the venue. We intended to offer a safe, welcoming space for those wanting to watch the matches but with the ongoing LGBTQIA+ and human rights issues surrounding the event, we now understand this is a contradiction to the values we hold as a venue.
"We are committed to creating a venue for all communities, where everyone is welcome. As previously planned, we'll be fundraising throughout the duration of the World Cup for Yorkshire Mesmac."
While, popular Chapel Allerton pub The Mustard Pot have done likewise. Landlady Nicola Moxham, 43, said: “We always show the big football matches, we always show the World Cup. Then we got a few comments off our regulars, just being quite honest, not attacking me, saying ‘Have you thought about the moral repercussions of showing this?'
“I hadn’t at that point, and then I started to look into it a bit more and realised it is distressing for a lot of people, and it’s not the right thing for us to be showing it. So we’ve had a U-turn and we’re no longer showing it.”
You can find which of you local pubs are showing the World Cup be searching below
She added: “The conversations were about its terrible human rights and it’s homophobia and that it kills people, and all the horrific things we are now seeing.
“Our clientele it suits because they are quite politically aware. For other people, everything counts on the World Cup, it’s the biggest sporting event for their business.”
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