FIFA boss Sepp Blatter’s comments that homosexual fans attending the Qatar World Cup should ‘refrain from any sexual activities’ to meet the country’s anti-homosexuality laws have met with widespread disapproval in Britain. 72% of respondents believe his comments to be unacceptable with just over half (56%) of respondents believing Blatter should resign as president of FIFA. Sepp Blatter has since apologised for any offense his comments may have caused.
- Just 17% think his comments were acceptable
- Only 15% of respondents think he should not resign
- Almost half (46%) disapprove of FIFA’s decision to award Qatar the 2022 FIFA World Cup
- Only 8% approve
Blatter’s own goal comes amid general disapproval of FIFA’s decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Half of the British public believe that it is wrong for FIFA to award the World Cup to a country where homosexuality is illegal. This mirrors the feelings of a number of high profile LGBT campaigners, such as Gay Football Supporters Network who stated “He (Blatter) says that football is 'everything for everyone' but he has not yet explained just how Fifa is going to ensure that LGBT football players and supporters will be welcome in Qatar”.
