But locals fear they will be beaten and jailed once tournament is over.
- Police instructed not to arrest same-sex fans showing affection in Qatar
- ‘Spies’ had been instructed to mingle among fans and arrest offenders
- Gay Qatar woman says LGBTQ+ fans will still be ‘beaten and jailed’ afterwards
- Are you an LGBTQ+ fan at the World Cup? Contact dale.fox@mailonline.co.uk
Gay couples will be able to openly hold hands, cuddle and kiss at the Qatar World Cup, despite public displays of affection being outlawed by the Arab state, it has been revealed.
Despite the move, it’s feared that once the World Cup is over, LGBTQ+ people in the country who enjoy the temporary freedom will be punished anyway.
FIFA has held secret meetings with Qatar’s Interior Ministry and persuaded it to stop officers from its Preventive Security Department arresting gay supporters at the World Cup.
Undercover spies from the ministry were reported to be set to mingle among fans and haul so-called offenders into custody.
Speaking through her office manager, a lesbian secretary told Mail Online: ‘The World Cup has given us the protection we need for maybe a month.
‘But you will find very few Qatari gay and lesbian people who will believe there will be no repercussions after the World Cup is over.
‘There may not be trouble while football is here, but they will catch up with Qatari people after, beat and jail us for what they see as shaming the country.’
The 30-year-old added: ‘As a lesbian woman, I will enjoy the World Cup like other fans, but you won’t see me hugging my girlfriend in Doha. No way.
