Zander Murray slams World Cup ambassador over anti-LGBTQ+ comments: “I felt deeply hurt”
Openly gay footballer Zander Murray slammed Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman for his recent anti-LGBTQ+ comments. On 8 November, the former Qatar international footballer told German broadcaster ZDF described the former Qatari international described homosexuality as “damage in the mind.” In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal and can be punished by penalties including flogging, imprisonment and even execution. “They have to accept our rules here,” he said of LGBTQ+ fans travelling to see the World Cup. “[Homosexuality] is haram.
You know what haram means?” he said. When asked why it was “haram”, meaning forbidden, Salman added: “I am not a strict Muslim, but why is it haram?
Because it is damage in the mind.” Since the release of the interview, an array of LGBTQ+ activists and sports figures have condemned Salman for his comments, including openly gay Scottish football star Murray.
In an interview with Sportsmail, the Gala Fairydean Rover striker said that he was “hurt and upset.” “I am now an openly gay footballer.
