David Beckham slammed for new promotional video, praising anti-gay Qatar as ‘perfection’

David Beckham shown red card from fans over startling ignorance about LGBTQ+ rights overseas, calling one of the most dangerous places in the world for queer folk ‘perfection’.

 

Supposed LGBTQ+ ally David Beckham has been getting heat this week, for all the wrong reasons.

 

Football governing body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has been heavily condemned since announcing that the 2022 World Cup would be held in Qatar, where homosexuality is still criminalised and same-sex marriages are not recognised by the government.

 

Currently in Qatar, same sex intercourse is punishable by flogging, stoning to death or up to seven years in prison and appeals to suspend these laws during the World Cup were thrown out. 

 

Enter David Beckham, who last year was appointed ‘the face’ of Qatar’s World Cup, as part of a mega-money deal (reportedly worth £150 million), which naturally sparked controversy due to the ex-footballer’s public image and fanbase being typically very LGBT+ (he’s married to a Spice Girl ffs).

This week a new 30-minute promotional video dropped, which featured Beckham exploring the sights and sounds of Qatar.

 

In the clip, the ‘gay icon’ can be seen aboard a sailing boat and visiting a spice market, among other cute, touristy things.

“Qatar really is an incredible place to spend a few days on a stopover,” the former England footballer says to camera.

“This is perfection. I cannot wait to bring my children back here.”

 

David Beckham with three of his four kids (Instagram)

 

Neither Beckham, nor his wife, Victoria ‘Posh Spice’ Beckham – who releases annual Pride t-shirts – commented publicly following the initial backlash, presumably hoping it would all blow over…  although it is also perfectly possible they were busy counting the money.

 

The new video does seem to have reignited fresh fury over his involvement though, as you can see below.

“Sportswashing is inherently wrong. Those who promote nations with horrific human rights records actively silence those who are discriminated against, harmed and killed, all for more money”, said one Twitter user, who pointed out that Beckham is also a UNICEF ambassador.

 

Beckham isn’t the only Spice Girls-related political controversy to have, regrettably, graced our pages in recent months, click here to see what Geri Halliwell has been up to.

 

Watch the video from Visit Qatar below and see some fuming Twitter reactions beneath it.

 

 

Listen to ‘The Rise of LGBTQ+ Football fan groups’ below: 

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