Rangers denounce FIFA gaffe

Rangers denounce FIFA gaffe

The Sydney Rangers Football Club has denounced comments made by FIFA President Sepp Blatter regarding the rights of homosexuals at the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup.

At a December 13 press conference in South Africa, Blatter was asked about Qatar’s policy of punishment for homosexual activity, which includes up to five years in prison.

“I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities,” a laughing Blatter replied, before saying that he expected Qatar’s attitudes towards homosexuality to soften in the next decade.

“I’m sure when the World Cup will be in Qatar there will be no problems. You see in the Middle East the opening of this culture, it’s another culture because it’s another religion, but in football we have no boundaries.

“We open everything to everybody and I think there shall not be any discrimination against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right or whatever.

“If (gay people) want to watch a match somewhere in Qatar 2022, I’m sure they will be admitted to such matches.”

Blatter has since said his initial comment was intended as a joke, and that he meant only that gay and lesbian visitors to Qatar should ‘show restraint’ in 2022.

The Rangers have called on FIFA to “show true leadership” in regards to the rights of gay footballers and spectators.

“The words by the FIFA President are not words of inclusiveness and acceptance, but are divisive and discriminatory. The comments will stop some players who, while the world may have progressed, may decide to not come to the World Cup from fear that they are not welcome … unless they behave in some prescribed manner,” club president Gavin Mears told the Star Observer.

“Such comments by Mr Blatter show contempt and ignorance for the basic human rights of homosexual athletes across the world, and does nothing to promote FIFA’s ‘no tolerance’ policy for all forms of discrimination in football.”

The Rangers join gay rights activists and sportspeople from across the globe who’ve condemned Blatter’s gaffe. American activist and former basketball star John Amaechi called on Blatter to offer a formal apology for his comments.

“It is the most childish response I could ever imagine, the fact that he would joke about something that is a serious issue,” he told Reuters.

“It’s not about people having sex in public and being sanctioned for it. It’s the fact that Qatar was one of 79 countries to sanction executing gays at the UN.”

Juris Lavrikovs of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association told the San Francisco Chronicle Blatter’s comments were “very unfortunate and have left people deeply offended”.

“I think they should come out with a strong statement and not just wash it away,” Lavrikovs said. “We are talking about a very basic human right that is being violated.”

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