The Football Association (FA) has assured LGBTQ+ fans that they will not face arrest for kissing or holding hands in public at the World Cup in Qatar.
The tournament has been marred with controversy since it was announced that it would take place in the Gulf state, where homosexuality is illegal and the LGBTQ+ community is subjected to discriminatory laws.
Amnesty International also released a 48-page report which concluded that certain harmful practices still take place in Qatar, such as withholding migrant workers’ pay and charging them money to move jobs – something the government there has denied.
However, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has now stated that police in the country have been briefed on being tolerant when the tournament takes place.