After winning the bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the government of Saudi Arabia has taken measures to relax some of its homosexual laws, in a bid to accommodate thousands of fans who will be travelling to the Middle-East for the biggest football festival.
In Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is illegal as well and punishable by death. Other punishments can include imprisonment and flogging.
President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), Yasser Al-Misehal, said the country will welcome everyone and Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) fans at the 2034 World Cup, a tournament FIFA is set to award to the oil-rich nation next year.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Al-Misehal, when quizzed about the safety of LGBT+ supporters, said: “We look to host a World Cup where everybody will be welcome”.
“Whenever we travel abroad for any tournaments or other purposes, we always ensure that we respect everyone’s values and culture. We expect all the visitors to do the same when they come to Saudi Arabia. As I said, everyone is welcome.
“When you arrive at customs at the airport in Saudi Arabia, they are only interested in your identification and nationality. It is most important that they come and enjoy a very safe environment and enjoy the hospitality our culture is rich in”, Al-Misehal further stated.
Al-Misehal is rolling out the same line that Qatar used ahead of the 2022 World Cup, where the issue of LGBT+ rights came into sharp focus when FIFA banned the LGBTQ “OneLove armband’ that some European teams wanted to wear during the tournament.
FIFA communicated that captains would receive a yellow card sanction if they wore the armband. During the tournament, supporters had rainbow-coloured items confiscated by stadium security guards. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, similarly insisted that everyone will be welcome despite the criminalisation of same-sex relationships.
Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder to stage the 2034 World Cup. FIFA will certify the Arab Kingdom as a host nation next year.
