Gay rights U-turn as London bus ads promote World Cup
ADVERTS for the Qatar World Cup have been emblazoned across London buses – despite Mayor Sadiq Khan imposing a ban on promotions from countries with poor human rights records.
Transport for London (TfL) suspended new adverts from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Qatar in 2019 after Mr Khan, who is its chairman, asked it to ‘review how it treats advertising and sponsorship from countries with anti-LGBT+ laws’.
Male homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and punishable by death. In addition, up to 6,500 migrant workers are said to have died while building its World Cup stadiums.
But adverts have now appeared on some London buses promoting November’s controversial competition.
Last night, critics slammed the Mayor’s apparent U-turn.
Peter Frankental, from Amnesty International UK, said: ‘The World Cup has provided Qatar with a global platform to sportswash its image. It’s galling that countries with an appalling human rights record are allowed to use London’s iconic buses to... gloss over the harm they do.’
Kate Barker, of the LGB Alliance supporting the rights of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, said: ‘TfL’s pledge not to accept money from homophobic regimes seems to have been written in sand.’
The bus advert features the World Cup logo and its official mascot, ‘La’eeb’ – Arabic for ‘super-skilled player’. Last week, the Daily Mail revealed that in a promotional video, David Beckham describes Qatar as ‘perfection’ – despite welldocumented human rights abuses. The ex-footballer, 47, has been criticised for his multi-million-pound deal to be the face of the nation.
Mr Khan’s office refused to comment, but TfL said the ad was placed by Fifa, football’s world body. Fifa did not respond to a request for comment.