A Qatar World Cup ambassador has called homosexuality "damage in the mind", in an interview days before the start of the competition.
The former Qatar international Khalid Salman told German broadcaster ZDF that LGBTQ+ people attending the tournament should "accept our rules".
Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar because it is deemed to be immoral under Islamic Sharia law
Salman said: “You know what haram [forbidden] means? I am not a strict Muslim but why is it haram? Because it is damage in the mind."
Qatar has faced longstanding criticism for its human rights record, with many people questioning whether it is an acceptable venue for the World Cup competition.
Huw Edwards presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Jane Dougall.
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