The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, criticised FIFA's decision to forbid athletes from supporting LGBTQ rights by using a rainbow-coloured armband on Tuesday. Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup.
After seeing the United States tie 1-1 with Wales, Blinken told reporters in Doha that no team should be forced to choose between "respecting his ideals" and participating. The English, Germans, and five other European teams abandoned their plans to wear "Onelove" armbands with rainbow-themed designs during the World Cup after FIFA threatened to punish them.
Because homosexuality is illegal in World Cup host Qatar, wearing the armbands was seen as a symbolic protest against the country’s policies. The FIFA decision has been panned across Europe. Blinken, when asked about the ban after meeting with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said, “It is always concerning when we see any restrictions on freedom of expression, especially when the expression is diversity.”
He said that nobody should have to choose between playing football and standing up for his beliefs.
Blinken, an avid football fan, flew into Doha on Monday for a quick 24-hour visit that included seeing the United States blow a one-goal lead in their tournament opener. The minister from Qatar said that his country had spent over 200 billion euros on infrastructure and other preparations for the World Cup but had been criticised because of “pre-conceived ideas” about conditions in the emirate.