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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Saffron Otter

'I'm gay and I was told I'd be welcome at World Cup - but now it's started it's ruined'

Rob Sanderson World Cup Fifa Qatar Football England Harry Kane DFB FAW Uefa Nations League

The World Cup controversially being hosted in Qatar is one thing, but the confusing rules around what has been allowed is another. Rob Sanderson, 34, who is gay, is a huge football fan and wanted to fly out to the peninsular Arab country to support England.

But he says he was forced to stay at home because of the lack of reassurances for the safety of LGBT+ people. As a Norwich City FC season ticket holder, football means a great deal to him and was key to maintaining a relationship with his father after coming out, as it is one of the only interests they have in common.

Rob is a volunteer on the committee at Pride in Football - a network of UK LGBT+ fan groups who actively work together to eliminate LGBT+ discrimination in football.

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