LGBTQ+ fan groups say Qatar concerns ‘not taken seriously’ by FIFA or 2022 World Cup organisers

LGBTQ+ fan groups have accused FIFA and the 2022 World Cup organisers of not taking their concerns seriously around the competition in Qatar this year.

The country's hosting of the tournament this year has stirred up controversy since it was awarded in 2010.

Qatar's treatment of LGBTQ+ people as well as welfare and rights of migrant workers, thousands of whom are said to have died in the construction of stadiums for the tournament, have been heavily criticised in recent years.

A joint statement issued by eight football supporters’ groups from across Europe and North America voiced their disappointment in the governing body for their disregard of human lives on the day of the group stage draw.

The statement read: "Over the past 18 months, we tried to engage with FIFA and the Qatar Supreme Committee ahead of the World Cup in November and December 2022. Our aims were simple:

"A founding principle of our group is that we should be able to follow our team as our authentic selves wherever we play in the world without fear for our safety and with freedom from persecution...There has been little effort from organisers to proactively engage around the concerns fans and rights groups have raised.

“Instead, we have often heard the well-drummed PR line that 'this is a World Cup for all'… We cannot, in good faith, tell our members – LGBT+ people or allies – that this is a World Cup for all.

The eight groups stressed concern for supporters in what they described as a "broken process".

The statement added: “We have seen no details about how our trans+ members will be treated with respect through security checks.

"We have heard no specifics on guarantees that LGBT+ people (fans or residents) will not be arrested for their existence. We