The Qatar World Cup has finally started but the controversy is far from over. A series of gay-rights issues are continuing to plague the tournament ranging from armbands to David Beckham’s partnership with Qatar.
Last night, England thrashed Iran 6-2 in the opening game of Group B. England captain Harry Kane had been due to wear the OneLove armband that he, and the captain’s of many other European nations, had worn throughout the qualifying process.
However, with the English Football Association facing a not inconsiderable fine and Kane risking a booking as soon as he entered the field, the Tottenham Hotspur forward backed-down. Instead, he wore the FIFA-approved “anti-discrimination” armband.
“We’re disappointed,” Kane said. “I said yesterday we wanted to wear it. That decision was taken out of my hands today. I turned up to the stadium with the armband that I wore and I was told I had to wear that [the official Fifa one]. It’s out of our control as players. I’m sure the FA and Fifa will continue those discussions but most importantly today we focused on the game and got a great result.”
British comedian Joe Lycett, who shredded almost AU$18,000 of his own money after David Beckham refused to reneged on his deal with Qatar, revealed yesterday that he hadn’t, in fact, thrown all that money away.
“The truth is, the money that went into the shredder was real, but the money that came out was fake,” the comedian said.
“In fact, the ten grand had already been donated to LGBTQ+ charities before I even pressed send on the initial tweet last week. I never expected to hear from you. It was an empty threat to get people talking. In many ways, it was like your deal with Qatar, David. Total bullshit from the start.”
🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/YuPYSQ2M6u
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) November 21, 2022
Lycett then went on to shred a copy of Attitude magazine with Beckham’s face on it. The issue, released in 2002, was the first time that a Premier League footballer had appeared on the cover of a gay magazine. Lycett even asked Attitude if he could do so. The mag was “more than happy to oblige.”
And, as ever, where there is a slice of controversy, Piers Morgan has managed to insert himself into the fray.
“Ridiculous that England made such a fuss about wearing virtue-signalling [sic] armbands at this World Cup. Even more ridiculous they’ve now been bullied into not wearing them,” Morgan tweeted.
“I’m not gay, but if I was, I’d be absolutely furious about this FA armband U-turn,” he said in a follow-up tweet.
I’m not gay, but if I was, I’d be absolutely furious about this FA armband U-turn. Makes an absolute mockery of the whole ‘we’re going to speak out about human rights in Qatar rather than boycott it’ stance.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 21, 2022
Characteristically, Morgan refused to back down from his ‘definitely not gay’ stance and started arguments with other Twitter users.
Try some shut up, James. https://t.co/H0EXgdAmr1
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 21, 2022
