to think it's ridiculous for football player in Qatar to want to protest about LGBT rights?

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when they are playing in stadiums built by migrant workers in appalling conditions? Plus, to me it seems the height of cultural imperialism to go to other countries and expect them to adopt out moral stances.

It's not about a moral stance, or a cultural difference though, is it, it's about basic human rights.
No, it's your view of basic human rights. Which obviously trumps everyone else's. Because, as I said before, you're a Westerner and we're always right.

‘I think you’re being harsh on the players. ‘

not wearing the armbands because of the threat of a yellow card was a SUPREME act of cowardice. If those captains had all worn the armband regardless of the threat imagine the impact. Would FIFA really continue to ‘punish’ teams??
All this fuss about teams going but taking a stand or taking part because they’d get a chance to represent or some such BS crumbled immediately at the first obstacle. Beyond pathetic.

If anyone genuinely gave a flying fuck at LGBT, women's and migrant workers' rights they wouldn't have given Qatar the WC, the players would refuse to play and fans would refuse to attend. FIFA is a fucking disgrace - so corrupt.

To make it clear, I support Gay and Women's Rights. But I'm not arrogant enough to think that everyone in the world should agree with me.

So you are questioning whether basic human rights are ‘right’?

Armbands, silent protests.. this all seems to be self-fulfilling PR for western teams. The Arab world has felt disrespected. They live the way they want to live and I agree we can't impose western values to other counties. We go there - we respect their traditions, customs, laws and religion. They come here - they respect ours. Nothing wrong with holding the World Cup in Qatar, all kinds of nations have the right to enjoy football, does it only have to be in the West? Would not that be discrimination? As always, double standards..

it's the fact that most people can't talk about this issue because we're labelled as LGBTQ-phobic??? when we're really not, but when has this become relevant to football in any way? there's no association whatsoever. it's bizarre to me to want to implement this when it's in no way relevant.

I believe in 'basic human rights' where I live. Because my culture subscribes to them.
Obviously, the view of what those rights are vary across other cultures. We don't have the right to impose our views on others, especially in their country.
If you don't like it, don't play there, and don't watch it.

But you didn't feel the need to apply your moral relativism to the South African boycotts - the argument you're trying to make doesn't depend on the nature or location of the protest.
You appear to think it's fine to be 'right' on racism (which it is) but not right re homophobic oppression.

Exactly this.

our players shouldn’t be over there.

They live the way they want to live

Qatar isn't a democracy. Do 'they' all live the way they want to live? The imposition of values is from within.

You are uncomfortable saying we are "right" and they are "wrong" when we are talking about beating up people as punishment for being gay, slave labour, no rights for women and too many human rights abuses to mention? I am completely ok about saying we are right and they are wrong about that.

I believe in 'basic human rights' where I live. Because my culture subscribes to them.

So you don't really believe in basic human rights. You don't really believe women are equal to men, just that we're allowed to be (more or less) in our society. You don't really believe homophobic oppression is a bad thing. Would you have campaigned for homosexuality to be legalised in the U.K. at a time when 'our culture' didn't subscribe to that? Would you have asserted women's rights when 'our culture' was firmly against them?

Half of LGB people are women.

Yeah....I'm ok with the view that all humans should be treated with respect irrespective of their gender, nationality or sexuality - and that people shouldn't be lashed, beaten or imprisoned for years on the basis of hatred and fear of difference/women getting to loud a voice.

Let them evolve at their own pace within their religions and traditions? Without having some Western football team loudly protesting?! Saudi Arabia has eased lots of rules, and more and more women take senior posts in various Arab countries.

Let them evolve at their own pace within their religions and traditions? Without having some Western football team loudly protesting?! Saudi Arabia has eased lots of rules, and more and more women take senior posts in various Arab countries.

Do you really think the reforms in Saudi (such as they are) happened in a vacuum?

What pisses me off is all the attention is on lgbtqi rights and noone is mentioning womens rights. Or rather the complete lack of them in Qatar

This. The appalling treatment of women is almost never mentioned.

Exactly. Having worked across the Middle East, I can give numerous examples of equivalencies in the other Gulf states, including openly expressing outrageously racist views about Jewish people and black people. Qatar's mistake was to open themselves up to scrutiny as part of their wider agenda around diversification in anticipation of oil reserves running out. I think they're probably shocked by the reaction: my impression is that whilst conservative, they are less so than some other Gulf states.

Surely they did so without some Brit or American or German coming over with an armband? They wanted to integrate in the world community and open up the country

Skelligsfeathers· Yesterday 23:09
What pisses me off is all the attention is on lgbtqi rights and noone is mentioning womens rights. Or rather the complete lack of them in Qatar

I agree. Think of how visiting women must dress in many countries let alone behave.

As regards the players would you forgo the pinnacle or close to that of your career - richly paid or not? I can’t say hand on heart I would.

I remember an awful lot of people including here saying that the womens win had inspired girls and boys to think they could reach that peak (in sport and other things). Do any of your children or those you know dream of scoring the winning goal for their country?

Not all the teams would take the stand so just another team would win. The player may be injured or just never play at that level again.

This was a corrupt decision made by a group of old men. They are the ones that should be accountable or maybe the football associations rather than individual players.

I'm extremely pissed off by the absence of interest in women's rights or lack thereof. But that doesn't mean I should be pissed off by some attempt at highlighting gay rights (Im not mentioning the other letters simply because I've no idea what pertains in Qatar). I'm pissed off that it's so half hearted and ineffectual.

I remember an awful lot of people including here saying that the womens win had inspired girls and boys to think they could reach that peak (in sport and other things). Do any of your children or those you know dream of scoring the winning goal for their country?

A proper boycott or protest might have inspired children in other ways, as the sportsmen (it was mostly men in those days) who took a stand against apartheid did when I was young. A proper protest might have inspired them to stand up against homophobia in footballing at home.

I love this answer.