File Photo: Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser Al-Khater speaks during a news conference in Doha. AFP
"All we ask is for people to be respectful of the culture," Mr Al Khater said.
When he was asked about the possibility for LBTQ+ supporters to hold hands publicly in Qatar, Nasser Al Khater told Sky Sports that: "Yes. If I held your hand now, and I walked out into the street for hours and hours and hours nobody would say anything to us"
He also stated that Qatar is not ready to change anti-LGBTQ+ laws to respond to the fears of fans, but it is clear that no one will be discriminated against during the tournament and that gay fans can hold hands.
"At the end of the day, as long as you don't do anything that harms other people, if you're not destroying public property, as long as you're behaving in a way that's not harmful, then everybody's welcome and you have nothing to worry about." Al Khater said.
"Everybody is welcome here and everyone will feel safe when they come to Qatar," he added.
Al Khater also confirmed that 95% of the World Cup games' tickets are sold but accommodation is still available.
"From what I understand, there are discussions taking place about the different political messages that are going to be," Al Khater said.
"This is a sporting tournament that people want to come (to) and enjoy. Turning it into a platform of political statements I don't think is right for the sport." he concluded.
Al Khater stressed that there are plans in place for people to sober up if they've been drinking excessively.
"It's a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, they're not harmful to anybody else," he said
"We've taken the challenge upon ourselves and we've risen to that challenge," he added.
"I'm not going to get into what the intentions are of other people, I'm not going to get into the minds and souls of other people. But you know, who knows, possibly," Al Khater said when he was asked if he felt criticism of Qatar's organisation of the World Cup was racist.
He pointed that FIFA have to decide about cautioning against "political messages" by teams and on the other side allowing the wearing of "One Love" armbands.
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