FIFA Prez Slammed Over World Cup Gay Joke

Sepp Blatter recommends gay football fans not have sex in Qatar

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 14, 2010 11:13 AM CST

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FIFA President Sepp Blatter Slammed Over Gay Joke While Discussing World Cup 2022 in Qatar — FIFA President Sepp Blatter gestures during a press conference following a meeting of the Executive Committee in Zurich, Switzerland, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Keystone/Steffen Schmidt)

Sepp Blatter will probably think a bit longer before he speaks next time: The FIFA president is being criticized for an ill-advised joke he made while discussing the World Cup in Qatar. Blatter was asked about the potential problems inherent in hosting the competition in the Middle East for the first time: Islam prohibits drinking alcohol in public, and homosexuality is illegal—making public displays of affection another potential issue.

Blatter jokingly offered gay fans this advice, “I would say they should refrain from any sexual activities,” the Telegraph reports. He did, however, continue, “We are definitely living in a world of freedom and I'm sure when the World Cup will be in Qatar in 2022, there will be no problems … I think there shall not be any discrimination against any human beings be it on this side or that side, be it left, right, or whatever."
(More 2022 World Cup stories.)

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