Qatar has begun testing its investment in London after the city’s transport authority banned Doha ads from buses, taxis and the subway.
This comes amid major controversy surrounding Qatar and the Arab countries’ refusal to promote homosexuality in the World Cup, and the subsequent stance of the Council of the International Football Association (FIFA) that it also refuses to promote homosexuality in the tournament.
In this context, the British newspaper The Financial Times reported that the move by the Transport Authority in London was prompted by concerns about Qatar’s approach to LGBT rights and its treatment of migrant workers, noting that this angered Doha. which is already increasingly angry over the criticism it has received. It is the host nation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In 2019, London Mayor Sadiq Khan asked TfL to “reconsider how it handles advertising and sponsorship from countries with anti-LGBT laws.”
This resulted in the suspension of new advertising from 11 countries, including: Qatar, Pakistan, Brunei and others.
And TfL admitted on Friday that “some” Qatari advertisements have since been shown on the network. But it moved to a total ban this week when European teams at the World Cup were banned from wearing pro-gay badges.
A person involved in the Qatari audit of the London investment said Khan’s transport authority had contacted Q22; This is the body that is watching the World Cup and the Qatar Tourism Authority this week to inform them about the total ban on Qatari advertising.
In response, Qatar is “reviewing” its “current and future investments” in London and “exploring other investment opportunities in other cities in the United Kingdom,” a person involved in the review told the Financial Times.
He clarified that “the TfL ban was interpreted as a message from City Hall that Qatari business is not welcome in London.”
The impact of the review on Qatar’s investment in London is still unclear, according to the Financial Times.
Over the past two decades, Qatar has become one of the biggest investors in London through its $450 billion sovereign wealth fund.
Khan’s spokesman said the Labor politician was not involved in day-to-day decisions about advertising on the city’s transport network.
A TfL spokesperson added that the company “provided additional guidance to advertising and brand partners” regarding acceptable advertising during the World Cup.
A person who participated in the country review said that Doha considers the TfL ban “another egregious example of double standards.”
With the start of the World Cup a few days ago, there were reports of European team captains intending to wear gay badges at matches, but FIFA issued a stern warning and threatened to extradite any team captain who goes that route. warning”.
Indeed, the leaders of the European teams participating in the first round of the group stage obeyed the decision of FIFA, and this was prevented only by the wearing of the “One Love” badge by the German Interior Minister Nancy Visser in the stands, which was criticized even in Germany.
Qatari authorities have also banned fans from entering the stands wearing hats or clothing that promotes homosexuality, in a clear stance against such behaviour.
The Arab and Gulf states categorically reject the promotion of such anomalous relationships and support any steps or measures aimed at preventing this at the World Cup, but Western countries, under pressure from pro-gay groups, are trying to impose their agenda on the Arab countries. in this file to no avail.
