
World-famous football legend David Beckham has reportedly signed a commercial deal with Qatar worth £10m. The lucrative deal will see him become ambassador of the country ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
But, given its history of persecuting members of the LGBTQ+ community, David Beckham is coming under fire for entering into a deal with the country.
Qatar faces accusations of human rights violence and is reportedly the second most dangerous country in the world for the queer community. In Qatar, it is illegal to be homosexual and is criminalised with prison or flogging.
In 2007, the footballer said he was happy to have the title of "gay icon". so the news has left many feeling disappointed that the high profile ex-footballer would collaborate with a homophobic country.
One Twitter user wrote: “You can be executed in Qatar for being gay. David Beckham has accepted millions from Qatar to try & make it a bit more cuddly.”
Hundreds of migrant workers, modern day slave labour, have dropped dead from heat & exhaustion during construction… https://t.co/kFMElNkrgv— Gyll King (@Gyll King) 1612683818
Gay icon David Beckham to be £10m face of Qatar PR campaign. Does he know being gay is punishable by flogging or de… https://t.co/YbHjdB4vGc— Andrew Pierce (@Andrew Pierce) 1612703844
Qatar will reportedly allow Pride flags to be flown while it hosts the World Cup, but controversy over whether it should have been allowed to host in the first place remains. It will be the first modern host country where homosexuality is banned and you can be imprisoned for being gay.
Meanwhile, Beckham, an already rich businessman, is accused of "selling out".
Money talks louder than the human rights activism, apparently - at least when it comes to #Qatar! Why are there no… https://t.co/ynlIzZd1Di— Irina Tsukerman (@Irina Tsukerman) 1612715455
David Beckham signed a £10 mil contract and is now an ambassador for a country which persecutes LGBTQ+ people...why… https://t.co/vNjnzQpzM4— georgia mooney (@georgia mooney) 1612791548
This choice is perhaps not the greatest look from the sporting legend.
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