Britain’s Foreign Secretary has defended Qatar by claiming it has “taken real steps” to ensure “gay football fans are safe” at the World Cup.
James Cleverly insisted the host nation’s rulers - who punish gay sex with up to seven years’ jail - “know how seriously we take the issue” of LGBT rights.
Yet the Tory chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee blasted: “Nothing about their behaviour has changed”.
Anger is growing at authorities in Qatar refusing to let fans wear official rainbow hats at matches. A Danish TV presenter was rapped by police live on air for wearing a OneLove armband - while FIFA banned the word “love” from the Belgian team kit.
The German Football Association claimed England were “blackmailed” into not wearing the rainbow-coloured armband, which is meant to send a message over Qatar’s stance on gay rights.
Despite the mounting anger Mr Cleverly - who previously urged gay fans to show “a little bit of flex” and “be respectful of the host nation” - insisted Qatar was aware of concerns.
He told the BBC gay rights is an issue he has "brought up over a number of years" with Qatar.
He added: “I’ve made it clear that we feel very strongly about this issue and, actually, one of the advantages about having a strong relationship with other countries is you can have these difficult conversations.
"The Qataris know how seriously we take this issue and they have taken real steps to ensure that gay football fans are safe and do feel secure and can enjoy themselves while watching the tournament.”
But asked about fans being told not to wear rainbow merchandise, he told the BBC rules about what happens in stadiums are a matter for FIFA.
Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the UK’s Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, told PA: "Yes, we should always be hopeful.
“But I do not meaningfully believe that holding the World Cup in Qatar is going to change anything on the ground.
"Because if it was going to, we wouldn't have seen human rights abuses taking place, there wouldn't have been the loss of life that we've seen taking place.
"Qatar has shown since it received the nomination to hold (the World Cup) that nothing about their behaviour has changed domestically or even regards to workers.
"So I really don't think, unfortunately - and I wish this was not the case - that we can have any hope that things will meaningfully change."
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said of the reports of fans having items confiscated: "I was really shocked and saddened to see that happen.
"It doesn't feel to me to be in the spirit of the World Cup, from the reports that I've read."
On the decision to be choose Qatar as host, the Tottenham Labour MP told PA: "I'm very conscious that, in the global community, there are countries that take a different view to the one that I hold on human rights issues - and I'm thinking here particularly of LGBTQ rights issues - which is why I don't think it would be right for a Labour politician particularly to take hospitality from the Qatari government to go out and watch the games.
"But I do also believe in the universal power of sport to bring people together.
"This is the first Muslim country to host the World Cup.
"People are there able to have those difficult conversations about human rights abuses, about the treatment of migrant workers, to campaign, to make their voices heard. I think that's right, and the international community is raising its voice in relation to these issues.
"But I recognise the power of football to bring people together and to change hearts and minds, and I hope some of that will flow from the games in Qatar."
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford attended his country's opening game against the USA, although the Welsh delegation will boycott the Iran game before making an appearance for the final Group B fixture with England.
Mr Lammy, asked about Mr Drakeford's decision to attend, said: "That is a matter for the Welsh Government. I think Mark Drakeford is there as a leader of his country, as a government, and that is a matter for him.
"But here in England we've been clear and Labour Members of Parliament aren't attending."
