LONDON: LGBT football fans who attend the World Cup in Qatar should show “a little bit of flex and compromise”, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.

Speaking to LBC on Wednesday, he told fans travelling from England and Wales to be “respectful of the host nation”, where same-sex activity is illegal.

Within hours, the prime minister’s official spokesman said LGBT fans should not be expected to “compromise who they are” if they visit Qatar for the World Cup.

Labour called Mr Cleverly’s remarks “shockingly tone-deaf”.

In a separate interview with Sky News, the foreign secretary reiterated his message when asked how the government was pushing for LGBT equality in Qatar.

He said: “These are Muslim countries, they have very different cultural starting point for us. I think it’s important when you’re a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation.”

The decision to stage the World Cup in Qatar, a country where homosexuality can be punishable by death, has been criticised by LGBT groups.

England and Wales have both qualified for the tournament, meaning they will each play three group matches, plus knock-out matches if they progress.

England’s three initial matches are being played in Doha, Al Khor and – against Wales – in Al Rayyan. Wales are playing all three of their matches in the latter city.

Earlier this year, LGBT organisations engaging with Fifa said “progress has been slow” in ensuring the safety of LGBT fans – and that reassurances from Qatar had “not been adequate”.

Some footballers have been taking a defiant stand in support of the LGBT community in the run-up to the World Cup. Footballer Harry Kane has said he intends to wear his OneLove rainbow captain armband during World Cup matches, even if it is not approved for use by the football’s global governing body, Fifa, which runs the World Cup.

Fifa regulations state that a player’s kit and other “basic compulsory equipment. must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images”.

Some politicians, including Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, said they would not attend the tournament due to Qatar’s human rights record.

Wales’s First Minister, Mark Drakeford, is still expected to be there.

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