Fear Of Applying The Death Penalty In Qatar, Australian Gay Footballers Refuse To Play In The 2022 World Cup

Illustration - Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Australian footballer Josh Cavallo, who admitted to being gay last month, has expressed his fear of playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the country's criminalization of homosexuality.

The 21-year-old, who plays for Adelaide United in Australia's A-League, is the only known gay footballer to play in the top men's league.

His announcement last month received praise from around the world, including from legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

However, the midfielder, who has played for Australia at Under-20 level but has not been called up to the senior squad, indicated he was unsure what he would do if selected to play in the 2022 World Cup.

"I read something that said they gave the death penalty to gay people in Qatar, so that's something I was really scared of and didn't want to go to Qatar for," Cavallo told the Guardian's Today in Focus podcast. AFP official Monday.

"And that makes me sad. In the end, the World Cup being held in Qatar and one of the greatest achievements as a professional footballer is playing for your country. Knowing that this is a country that doesn't support gays, people will put us at risk of our own lives. , it scares me, and makes me reevaluate is my life more important than doing something really good in my career?” Cavallo said.

Since being selected as host in 2010, Qatar has faced criticism for its treatment of LGBT people, as well as its record on women's rights and labor issues.

Last year, a report from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) said sources indicated the death penalty could potentially be used as a punishment for consensual homosexual sex in Qatar.

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Chief Executive Nasser al-Khater, in 2019 said, "every fan of any gender, sexual orientation, religion and race, must believe that Qatar is one of the safest countries in the world, and they will all be welcome." in that country.

However, she stressed that showing affection in public is frowned upon, it's not part of their culture, and that applies to everyone.

The last World Cup was held in Russia, where bizarre activism was severely restricted under the 2013 gay propaganda law, which prohibits the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations to minors.

Despite soccer's immense worldwide popularity, few male footballers have ever admitted to being gay, most of them admitting after retiring to avoid possible ridicule from the upper classes.

The first professional to confess while still playing was England's Justin Fashanu in 1990, but he never gained acceptance in the game and hanged himself in 1998.