[Published: Tuesday December 14 2010]
 Blatter sparks Qatar gay furore
Zurich, 14 Dec – (ANA) - Fifa president Sepp Blatter has joked that gay fans travelling to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar should "refrain from any sexual activities".
Gay rights groups have criticised the decision to award the tournament to a country where homosexuality is illegal.
But Blatter, apparently joking, said: "I would say they [gay fans] should refrain from any sexual activities."
On a more serious note, Blatter added: "I'm sure when the World Cup will be in Qatar there will be no problems."
Fifa has since come in for criticism after the decision to take the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time.
Concerns were raised about hosting the tournament during the summer months in a country where while current laws mean drinking alcohol in public is forbidden.
Gay groups are also worried about the acceptance of homosexual fans, with the saying at the time of Fifa's decision: "We strongly condemn Fifa's decision and will be leading a LGBT [Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender] boycott of all activities associated with World Cup 2022. (ANA)
FA/ANA/14 December 2010------
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