Less than a month from the World Cup: Australia’s national team asks Qatar to decriminalize LGTBIQ+ relations

The Australian team condemned the attacks against human rights that, according to what it indicates, have been happening in Qatar, the country that will host the World Cup. This was explained by the footballers of the ‘Socceroos’ in a video published on social networks.

The soccer players expressly requested the implementation of reforms to improve the quality of life of local citizens, as well as migrants. In addition, they demand the decriminalization of relationships between people of the same sex at least during the FIFA tournament.

There were 16 players from the ocean team who appeared in this clip that has already gone around the world. Among them is captain Mathew Ryan and Andrew Redmayne, remembered for the penalty shootout in the playoff against Peru.

“These last two years we have dedicated ourselves to understanding and learning more about the situation in Qatar”the Australians pointed out and then explained that “We are not experts but we listen to organizations like Amnesty (International), FIFA and more importantly, foreign workers in Qatar.”

“There are universal values ​​that should define football: values ​​such as respect, dignity, trust and courage. When we represent our nation, we aspire to embody these values.”Ryan says before giving way to midfielder Denis Genreau.

“But in Qatar people are not free to love the person they choose. Addressing these questions is not easy and we do not have all the answers”says the current Toulouse player so that later Jackson Irvine requests “a lasting legacy” that includes “the creation of a resource center for immigrants, effective solutions for those who have been denied their rights, and the decriminalization of all same-sex relationships.”