France national team captain Hugo Lloris has urged the football fraternity to respect Qatar’s culture during the FIFA World Cup.
Lloris was reacting to a question on whether or not he will wear the rainbow-colored armband meant to campaign against homosexuals discrimination during the World Cup in line with the OneLove campaign that has been ongoing in Europe.
“When we are in France when we welcome foreigners, we often want them to follow our rules, to respect our culture, and I will do the same when I go to Qatar, quite simply,” Lloris said. “I can agree or disagree with their ideas, but I have to show respect.”
Qatar made it clear that any campaigns that are aimed at championing homosexuality will not be allowed in their country during and after the World Cup as it is illegal and against their culture.
But the English Federation (FA)in September announced that captains of eight European teams that qualified for the World Cup (Germany, England, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Wales, and Switzerland) will wear a rainbow armband in Qatar as part of their OneLove campaign.
However, the French captain further said all parties need to agree on one thing before the World Cup starts this weekend to avoid politics taking center stage during the World’s biggest football showpiece.
“Before we start anything, we need the agreement of Fifa, the agreement of the [French] federation,” Lloris said. “Of course, I have my personal opinion on the topic. And it’s quite close to the [French federation] president’s.”
Meanwhile, according to The Guardian, Lloris has received backing from his country’s Football federation president Le Graët not to wear the rainbow armband in Qatar.
He said he would prefer Lloris did not wear it because he does not want his country to lecture others.
