LIONS NEED A GOOD ROAR

A LOT of sportsmen and women are not always comfortable taking a robust stance on contentious societal issues... and that’s fair enough.

We cannot expect England’s footballers to be fully across the human rights issues in Qatar. Of course, not.

But, on Friday, both Gareth Southgate (above) and Jordan Henderson said they would be criticised for whatever they did. And that is simply not true.

If, for example, Southgate and England’s footballers make a simple, but bold, gesture in support of LGBTQ+ community that feels threatened by the Qatari state, then no right-minded person would criticise them for it.

It’s simple. If you’re on the side of good, only the bad will dislike you.