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# LGBTQ+ ‘ally’ Beckham faces backlash for becoming ‘face of Qatar’
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/lgbtq-ally-beckham-faces-backlash-for-becoming-face-of-qatar/
- Published: 2021-02-10T12:30:43.000Z
- Updated: 2021-02-10T11:10:49.000Z
- Description: Football star David Beckham has faced backlash from the LGBTQ+ community after signing a deal to become the ‘face of Qatar’, where queer people are persecuted regularly.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Sport, David Beckham, Football, gay rights, LGBTQ, Qatar, Sports, World Cup 2022

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/david-beckham-1.jpg)

Football star **David Beckham** has faced backlash from the LGBTQ+ community after signing a deal to become the ‘face of **Qatar**’, where queer people are persecuted regularly. Beckham first shared his support for the LGBTQ+ community in 2007, telling BBC Radio 2 that he was *“very honoured to have the tag of gay icon.”* However, according to [*Metro*](https://metro.co.uk/2021/02/08/david-beckham-faces-backlash-amid-reports-hes-signed-as-face-of-qatar-14044394/?ref=scenemag.co.uk), he recently signed a £10 mil deal with Qatar to become its ambassador in the run-up to next year’s World Cup, which is due to be held in the nation.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/world-cup-qatar-1.jpg)

Same-sex relations are illegal in the country and punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment. The Qatari government does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, and the country was named the second most dangerous place for LGBTQ+ people to visit in 2019\. After reports of Beckham signing the deal surfaced, he has been criticised by many social media users, with one [saying](https://twitter.com/lee%5Fsw8/status/1358912448447868928?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“Very disappointed to hear that* *David Beckham has become the face of Qatar, where men can be punished with death for being gay.”* Another [said](https://twitter.com/LucyRebel20/status/1358741873926447109?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“David Beckham has accepted an offer to represent Qatar for the World Cup for $10 million. Homosexuality is completely outlawed in Qatar and punishable by imprisonment and flogging.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/lgbt_equality_flag-1.jpg)

One Twitter user [referred ](https://twitter.com/rdunbar83/status/1358871262588723203?ref=scenemag.co.uk)to Beckham’s actions as ‘disgusting’ considering how LGBTQ+ people are treated in Qatar: *“This is disgusting especially when you consider being* *LGBTQ+ is punishable by death in the country. Look forward to Beckham’s statement on this one!”* Amid the controversy, **Nasser Al-Khater**, the 2022 World Cup chief executive, has insisted that Qatar is LGBTQ+ friendly: *“We have a country that’s conservative, however we are a welcoming country. ‘We are open and welcoming – hospitable. We understand the difference in people’s cultures. We understand the difference in people’s beliefs and so I think, again, everybody will be welcome and everybody will be treated with respect.”*