In 1868, Britain, BahrainAn island country in the Middle East with a population of 1.7 million. and the ruling house of QatarA small country on the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Saudi Arabia. Like its larger neighbour, it has experienced rapid economic development but maintained strict conservative religious codes. signed an agreement that secured Qatar's independence. No-one then could have imagined that this tiny desert state would one day be hosting one of the world's biggest sporting events.

But, after all, before the announcement was made in 2010, most people would not have guessed that the World Cup would end up in a country where temperatures regularly soar above 40C and where male homosexuality is still illegal. 

Gay people can be fined and imprisoned for up to three years. Even campaigning for LGBT+ rights is illegal.

Many football teams are concerned about the idea of playing in such a repressivePreventing personal freedom. state. That is why, in September, ten countries, including England and Wales, announced a campaign called OneLove. They said their team captains would wear an armband with a multicoloured heart to show their commitment to LGBT+ rights.

Yet now most of these teams have called off their campaign. They say FIFAThe Federation Internationale de Football Association is the world's highest governing body of association football. threatened to give their captains yellow cards if they went ahead with it.

The decision has caused a storm of outrage. Fans have accused FIFA and the teams of giving in to hate and bigotryPrejudice towards a certain group, and an unwillingness to change your mind. .

But others can see FIFA's point of view. They point out that the organisation has to be fair to all of its members. They think it is best for FIFA to ban any kind of political statement on the football pitch and insist that players respect all local laws.

Still others think the teams are missing the bigger picture. Last year it was estimated that more than 6,500 migrant workers died building the stadium complex for this World Cup.¹

The whole tournament, critics say, has been poisoned with dirty money and human rights abuses. They think other teams should have boycotted it from the very start.

Yes: Players must be allowed to speak their minds, and LGBT fans deserve to see the players they admire sticking up for their right to exist.

No: If FIFA lets players defy the law in one country, they risk looking hypocritical and unfair if they try to prevent it in other countries. They cannot make an exception, even for a good cause like this one.

Or... Players cannot have it both ways: if they wanted to protest against the Qatari regime, they should never have agreed to take part in the first place.