Gay fans’ guide to avoid Russian bigots
GAY fans attending the World Cup in Russia have been warned not to hold hands in some of the cities staging matches during the tournament.
The advice will be included in a guide being prepared by anti-discrimination group FARE to help supporters cope with potential homophobia and racism in Russia.
FARE executive director Piara Powar said: ‘We will advise gay people to be cautious in any place which is not seen to be welcoming to the LGBT community. The same message is there for black and ethnic minority fans — do go to the World Cup but be cautious. If you have gay fans walking down the street holding hands, will they face danger in doing so? That depends on which city they are in and the time of day.
‘The guide will also include some details of the LGBT community in Russia. It is not a crime to be gay but there is a law against the promotion of homosexuality to minors. Gay people have a place in Russia but it is quite hidden and underground.’
Meanwhile, UK’s Pride in Football group and Germany’s QFF have asked FIFA if they can raise the gay pride rainbow flag inside stadiums during the tournament, with no official response so far.
BT SPORT’S Ashes coverage, which has received mixed reviews, has so far failed to attract anywhere near the number of viewers to warrant the £80million, five-year rights deal with Cricket Australia. The paltry average for the five days in Brisbane were 100,000, 106,000, 80,000, 89,000 and 73,000 for the last rites on the fifth morning.
THE FA do not feel any need to overly brief chairman Greg Clarke about keeping his emotions and body language in check when the cameras inevitably focus on him as England’s World Cup opponents are drawn on Friday. His predecessor Greg Dyke famously made a cutthroat gesture (right) in Brazil four years ago. However, after Clarke’s last televised appearance at the DCMS select committee hearing went so off message, perhaps one of the Wembley spin doctors should have a word.
GARY LINEKER, who is earning around £20,000 for hosting the World Cup draw in Moscow despite being such a ferocious critic of FIFA, was also hypocritical enough this week to personally bar the Daily Mail and
The Sun from his BT Sport Champions League press conference despite having earned considerable sums for writing ghosted columns for both their newspaper groups.
Boycott luggage googly
GEOFF BOYCOTT was among the passengers whose luggage was left behind when Qantas shamelessly prioritised all the Australian team kit on the flight from Brisbane to Adelaide.
Boycott, along with ECB chairman Colin Graves and after-dinner speaker Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan, was left for an hour at the empty luggage carousel, and when they eventually queued to give their details, no apology was offered.
Remarkably, Boycott kept his cool at Adelaide airport about the delay and the inconvenience of his suitcase having to be sent on later to his hotel. However, a number of the Aussies on the flight were vocal in their annoyance about their victorious cricket team being favoured in such a way.
WORLD CUP hosts Russia are without doubt the global champions of cyber espionage. However, the FA delegation going to Moscow for the draw are confident enough about firewalls protecting their computer information to be travelling with their usual laptops and mobiles.
RFU president John Spencer did not make the same level of gaffe as he did during the last autumn Test series, when he encouraged Twickenham councillors in a speech to try their luck with Prince Albert of Monaco’s unaccompanied wife. But the four-times married Spencer caused some embarrassment with the number of times he tried to pronounce the name of Samoa’s EU ambassador, Dr Pa’olelei Luteru.