A Qatar World Cup ambassador has told German television broadcaster ZDF that homosexuality was "damage in the mind", as the Gulf state prepares to host the global tournament in less than two weeks.
In an interview filmed in Doha and to be screened later on Tuesday, former Qatar international Khalid Salman addressed the issue of homosexuality, which is illegal in the conservative Muslim country.
Some players have raised concerns over the rights of fans travelling to the event, especially LGBTQ+ individuals and women, whom rights groups say Qatari laws discriminate against.
The country expects more than one million visitors for the World Cup. "They have to accept our rules here," Salman said, in an excerpt of the interview. "(Homosexuality) is haram.