Football star makes a stand for LGBTQ safety at World Cup

Josh Cavallo, Australia’s first active male professional footballer to come out as gay, has said a country’s position on LGBTQ+ rights should be considered before awarding countries hosting rights for sporting events.

Cavallo, 22, previously said he would be “scared” to play at the World Cup in Qatar, where gay sex is a criminal offense.

“I vow to stand up for the LGBTQ+ athletes and the fans at the World Cup in Qatar, who can’t live openly, authentically. Qatar, FIFA, the world is watching, do you see us?” Cavallo said last week.

“I urge sport leaders to consider our rights, our safety while choosing host countries for World Cups and other competitions. We must do better.”

Nasser Al Khater, the chief executive of the 2022 World Cup, has said LGBTQ+ fans coming into the country would not have to worry about “persecution of any sort”, and described Qatar as a “tolerant country.”

It comes as Cavallo took a swipe at David Beckham from the stage at the Attitude Awards for his sponsorship deal with the Qatar World Cup.

Picking up the Man of the Year award at the Camden ceremony, the Australian footballer said, “Take that David Beckham!” referring to the fact that Beckham, 47, had signed a deal worth a reported £10m to be the face of the Qatar World Cup. Homosexuality is illegal in the gulf state.

The World Cup begins on November 20 and runs through to Dec. 18.