Many hotels recommended by FIFA during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar do not accept gay guests.
Shows a survey by SVT with the Norwegian NRK and the Danish DR.
FIFA has listed on its website 69 hotels in Qatar that are recommended for visitors during the Men’s World Cup later this year.
SVT, along with NRK and DR, investigated how the said hotel received gay guests, given the fact that homosexuality is illegal in the country.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and representatives of the World Cup tournament played down the problem and said everyone was welcome. But an SVT survey, where they tried to book a room for a gay couple, showed something else.
“I can’t receive you”
Of the 59 hotels that responded, three refused to accept gay guests. These include The Torch Doha, Magnum Hotel & Suites Westbay, and Wyndham Grand Regency.
The Torch replied, “Thank you for your question, but as per our hotel policy we cannot accommodate you.”
Two of the three hotels sided with their stand after being told that it was journalists who asked the question, while The Torch initially denied that they said no to homosexuals at all. Then they changed that everyone is welcome, but as a gay you shouldn’t show your love in public.
33 hotels had no objection at all, while another 20 accepted guests, but with the clear call that in this case you shouldn’t appear as gay. The last 13 hotels have not responded, or are currently operating as quarantine hotels during the Corona pandemic.
Syostrand: “Unacceptable”
FIFA wrote in an email to SVT that the union strives to create a “non-discriminatory environment” and that it “protects diversity”. But no answer has been given as to how some World Cup hotels connect homosexuals.
“FIFA is convinced that all necessary measures will be in place for LGBT fans and others so that they can enjoy the tournament in a safe and welcoming manner,” FIFA wrote.
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) has previously received criticism for its handling of the Qatar issue. Among other things, the men’s national team has held its annual January tour of the country since 2019, but this year’s edition was canceled based on demands from Sweden’s elite clubs.
Recently, the SvFF’s tone towards Qatar has partially changed, and when General Secretary Håkan Sjöstrand hears about the attitudes of many World Cup hotels towards homosexuals, he is alarmed.
– It is not acceptable, of course, what I am participating in. This once again shows that it’s wrong to put a championship in a country that doesn’t respect basic rights, like letting it be loved and like whoever you want, Sjöstrand told SVT.
The SvFF has already planned meetings with FIFA in the future, and Sjöstrand says he then intends to raise the issue.