An ambassador of the Qatar World Cup affirms that homosexuality is "damage to the mind"

Khalid Salman, ambassador of the 2022 World Cup and former international soccer player with the Qatari team, stated that homosexuality "is a damage to the mind."

These statements he made in the framework of an interview that will be broadcast on German television this Tuesday.

Salman spoke to

as part of a documentary two weeks before the start of the World Cup and said his country will tolerate gay visitors, but with nuances.

“They will have to adapt and accept our standards,” he says.

After broaching the subject of homosexuality, the interview was interrupted by a press officer from the World Cup organizing committee.

Before, the former player had made it clear that homosexuality is

that is, a sin prohibited by Islam.

In addition, he acknowledged "having a problem" with children seeing homosexual people.

Salman was a renowned Qatari player in the 1980s, he played for Al Saad and played in two Asian Cups (1984 and 1988) and an Olympic Games (Los Angeles 1984) with his national team.

The country is preparing to receive around 1.2 million international visitors during the month that the tournament will last.

Criticism about human rights violations in the emirate has been constant.

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, but despite this, the organization has tried to calm things down by saying that homosexual couples should not worry during the tournament.

FIFA has confirmed that LGBTI flags are authorized in World Cup stadiums.

As a sign of protest against the discrimination suffered by homosexuals in the country, the captains of several European teams such as England, France or Germany will wear bracelets with the colors of the LGTBI flag and the message "One Love".

Another form of claim will be through the Denmark shirt, of the Hummel brand, which will have the logo of the brand and the Federation blurred.

"We do not want to be visible during a tournament that has cost thousands of people their lives," they argued.

In Spain, Jorge Sampaoli, coach of Sevilla, has also given his opinion on the World Cup and has positioned himself against the chosen place and date.

The Argentine coach was very critical during Tuesday's press conference ahead of Sevilla's match against Real Sociedad.

“Now no one can complain to us, it should have been resolved long before, playing in an Arab country in the middle of a season, now nothing can be done.

It is going to be played in a place that should not be played and all for money, at a time that should not have been played.

The issue is that this is a big business and everything else is left aside, ”said Sampaoli.

In Germany, where Salman's interview will be broadcast, many supporters have called for a boycott of the championship.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser confirmed last week during a visit to Qatar that she would attend the World Cup after receiving "security guarantees" for LGBTI supporters from the emirate's prime minister.

Some German deputies accompanied the minister during the visit, but the government's human rights minister, Luise Amtsberg, abstained.

Faeser had previously said that hosting the World Cup in Qatar was "very sensitive" from Berlin's point of view, prompting Doha to summon the German ambassador.

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