Gay Fans 'Should Refrain From Any Sexual Activities'

[TampaYankee]

FIFA President: Gay Fans 'Should Refrain From Any Sexual Activities' During 2022 World Cup In Qatar

GERALD IMRAY | 12/13/10 02:29 PM | AP

JOHANNESBURG FIFA President Sepp Blatter insisted Monday that the votes to award World Cups to Russia and Qatar were based on developing soccer and had nothing to do with money.

He also noted that the world's biggest soccer tournament will have to adjust to more than just the sweltering desert heat when it takes its party-like atmosphere to the Middle East in 2022.

Blatter said that homosexual fans "should refrain from any sexual activities" that are illegal in Qatar.

Drinking alcohol also is restricted in the country, but Blatter hopes soccer's universal appeal will bridge cultural differences at the 2022 World Cup.

"It's another culture and another religion, but in football we have no boundaries," said Blatter, who was in South Africa for the official closing of the 2010 World Cup. "We open everything to everybody and I think there shall not be any discrimination against any human beings, being on this side or that side, left or right or whatever.

"Football is a game that does not affect any discrimination. You may be assured ... if people want to watch a match in Qatar in 2022, they will be admitted to matches."

Having praised South Africa's tournament as an example of the success a first-time host can achieve, Blatter added during his appearance at Soccer City that he thought there was "too much concern" for the World Cup in Qatar.

FIFA has been criticized for choosing Russia and Qatar over more traditional soccer countries during a Dec. 2 vote that took place without two members of the executive committee who were suspended for allegedly agreeing to take money for their support.

In his first public address since the vote, Blatter defended FIFA's choices.

"We go to Eastern Europe, to Russia where the World Cup has never been. And later on, we go to the Middle East, we go to the Arabic world, we go to the Islamic world," Blatter said.

"This is the development of football and don't speak about money. This has nothing to do with money, as it had nothing to do with money here in Africa. It has to do with the development of the game," he said, pounding the podium with his fist for emphasis.

Blatter also announced a $100 million legacy fund for South Africa. He said $20 million had already been used to build a new South African Football Association headquarters and for part of the organizing of the competition, but promised the remainder would go to "social and community projects."

FIFA earned an estimated $3.5 billion from this year's World Cup.

South Africa President Jacob Zuma, who had met with Blatter at Soccer City earlier Monday, said he hoped the first World Cup in Africa would act as a catalyst for development in the country.

"We are officially closing one of the major highlights and success stories of the year," Zuma said. "We hosted a memorable World Cup."

Blatter said he was proud of the South African tournament.

"FIFA's World Cup is not a circus, coming into a country, putting up some tents and when the performance is over, taking everything with and perhaps some more and going home," he said. "No, FIFA's World Cup is more than that."

See original article at:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/13/fifa-president-gay-fans_n_796068.html

[lookin]

No problem. I'm sure there'll be other things to do.

[Guest lurkerspeaks]

No problem. I'm sure there'll be other things to do.

Lookin, you might be dreaming of camel rides at the world cup, but I would be dreaming of going for another kind of ride...

[TampaYankee]

Gay rights groups condemn Blatter comment

By STEVE DOUGLAS, AP Sports Writer

Dec 14, 1:48 pm EST

LONDON (AP)A leading international gay rights group demanded an official apology from FIFA on Tuesday following Sepp Blatters comment about homosexual fans traveling to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.

The president of the world soccer governing body said Monday that gay fans should refrain from any sexual activities during the World Cup in Qatar, where homosexual behavior is illegal.

Juris Lavrikovs, communications director for the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, said the 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 told The Associated Press. We are talking about a very basic human right that is being violated.

Blatter spoke in South Africa on Monday at the launch of a post-2010 World Cup legacy project. He was asked if he could foresee any cultural problems with the tournament being held in Qatar.

Id say they (gay fans) should refrain from any sexual activities, he said, smiling.

This is not a joke, this is a matter of life and death to people, Lavrikovs said. Qatar and more than 70 other countries in the world still criminalize individuals for homosexual relationships, and some countries even punish them by death sentence.

Its disappointing to see that an organization that is promoting the game, which in its statutes condemns discrimination of any kind, is coming out with comments like this.

Qatar beat the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea in the FIFA vote on Dec. 2 to host the 2022 World Cup.

Concerns have been raised that a country hosting a major tournament has stringent laws that are seen by many to violate basic human rights.

Sepp Blatter jokes about the risk to gay visitors in 2022, but Qatars anti-gay policies are no laughing matter, British human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said.

John Amaechi also condemned Blatters remarks. The former NBA player from Britain who revealed he was gay in 2007 said on his website that FIFA has endorsed the marginalization of LGBT people around the world.

Amaechi also demanded an apology from FIFA and urged other associations to distance themselves from Blatters comments.

Anything less than a full reversal of his position is unacceptable, he said.

Herman Ouseley, chairman of Kick It Out, a British campaign group for equality and inclusion in soccer, said he expected better from someone in Blatters position.

It was all frivolity and laughter but its a serious businesspeoples existence he has ridiculed, Ouseley told the AP at the launch of his groups annual review at the British Parliament.

We cant have that from the top of the world governing bodyyouve got to show leadership because youve got to influence the standards of behavior required and then youve got to enforce it when theres a failure.

AP Sports Writer Rob Harris contributed to this report.

[Guest zipperzone]

While i certainly understand the outrage, I find it difficult to get too worked up about something that won't take place for 12 years. By then who knows what strides will have been taken - or if Iran and North Korea have their way we may all be meeting on a heavenly cloud or around a huge bonfire depending on your past :bug:behaviour .