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| World Cup: Plaid leader joins criticism of Mark Drakeford trip | World Cup: Plaid leader joins criticism of Mark Drakeford trip |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Mark Drakeford will attend Wales' match against the USA | Mark Drakeford will attend Wales' match against the USA |
| Plaid Cymru's leader Adam Price has joined criticism of the first minister's plans to go to the World Cup in Qatar. | Plaid Cymru's leader Adam Price has joined criticism of the first minister's plans to go to the World Cup in Qatar. |
| Mr Price said as a "gay man" he believed it would send the "wrong message" for Mark Drakeford to attend. | |
| His stance follows comments by Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman that homosexuality is "damage in the mind". | His stance follows comments by Qatar World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman that homosexuality is "damage in the mind". |
| Ministers called Mr Salman's words "shameful" and said they stood "in solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities". | |
| A Welsh government spokesman said: "The first minister and cabinet have raised human and workers' rights issues directly with the Qatari ambassador to the UK and are engaging with LGBTQ+ fans and trades unions in Wales and across the world to help ensure fan safety." | |
| Why is Qatar under fire ahead of the world cup? | Why is Qatar under fire ahead of the world cup? |
| Awarding Qatar the World Cup a mistake - Blatter | Awarding Qatar the World Cup a mistake - Blatter |
| British police in Qatar will act as 'buffers' | British police in Qatar will act as 'buffers' |
| Mr Drakeford is set to attend Wales' match against the USA, whilst Economy Minister Vaughan Gething is due to go to the game against England. | Mr Drakeford is set to attend Wales' match against the USA, whilst Economy Minister Vaughan Gething is due to go to the game against England. |
| But the government decided to reverse its decision to send Deputy Sport Minister Dawn Bowden to Wales' fixture against Iran due to recent protests in the country. | But the government decided to reverse its decision to send Deputy Sport Minister Dawn Bowden to Wales' fixture against Iran due to recent protests in the country. |
| The Welsh Conservatives called for the decision to be reversed as they believe it is right for the Labour government to promote Wales abroad and highlight human rights abuses. | The Welsh Conservatives called for the decision to be reversed as they believe it is right for the Labour government to promote Wales abroad and highlight human rights abuses. |
| Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Tory Leader in the Senedd, said: "We feel that sending a female Minister will send that vital message, that here in Wales, men and women are wholly equal." | Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Tory Leader in the Senedd, said: "We feel that sending a female Minister will send that vital message, that here in Wales, men and women are wholly equal." |
| Holding the World Cup in Qatar has been controversial since the moment it was first announced | Holding the World Cup in Qatar has been controversial since the moment it was first announced |
| Qatar has been criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, human rights record and treatment of migrant workers. | Qatar has been criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, human rights record and treatment of migrant workers. |
| There is concern about how LGBTQ+ people are treated in Qatar, where same-sex relationships and the promotion of same-sex relationships are criminalised, with punishments ranging from fines to the death sentence. | There is concern about how LGBTQ+ people are treated in Qatar, where same-sex relationships and the promotion of same-sex relationships are criminalised, with punishments ranging from fines to the death sentence. |
| In an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, former Qatar international Khalid Salman said that LGBTQ+ people attending the tournament should "accept our rules". | In an interview with German broadcaster ZDF, former Qatar international Khalid Salman said that LGBTQ+ people attending the tournament should "accept our rules". |
| Following the comments, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: "As a gay man, who could not travel safely to Qatar to support our team in the World Cup, I feel - as I'm sure many in the LGBTQ+ community do - that it sends the wrong message for the head of our national government to attend in person. | Following the comments, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: "As a gay man, who could not travel safely to Qatar to support our team in the World Cup, I feel - as I'm sure many in the LGBTQ+ community do - that it sends the wrong message for the head of our national government to attend in person. |
| "While I'm delighted that so many people will be able to support the great achievement of our national team - and I couldn't be prouder of Cymru - this freedom is not available to everyone. | "While I'm delighted that so many people will be able to support the great achievement of our national team - and I couldn't be prouder of Cymru - this freedom is not available to everyone. |
| "The Qatari government have been unable to guarantee that LGBTQ+ people will not be subject to discrimination or imprisonment whilst in their country and the comments today by the Qatar FIFA World Cup ambassador are hateful and entirely unacceptable. | "The Qatari government have been unable to guarantee that LGBTQ+ people will not be subject to discrimination or imprisonment whilst in their country and the comments today by the Qatar FIFA World Cup ambassador are hateful and entirely unacceptable. |
| "Plaid Cymru and the Welsh government together are proudly committed to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe." | "Plaid Cymru and the Welsh government together are proudly committed to make Wales the most LGBTQ+ friendly nation in Europe." |
| Adam Price says he could not travel safely to Qatar to support the Welsh team | Adam Price says he could not travel safely to Qatar to support the Welsh team |
| "I implore the first minister to honour that commitment and stand in global solidarity with LGBTQ+ people everywhere by reconsidering his decision to attend the World Cup in Qatar," Mr Price added. | "I implore the first minister to honour that commitment and stand in global solidarity with LGBTQ+ people everywhere by reconsidering his decision to attend the World Cup in Qatar," Mr Price added. |
| The Liberal Democrats have called for a political boycott of the event. | The Liberal Democrats have called for a political boycott of the event. |
| Sir Ed Davey, the UK's Lib Dem leader, told BBC Wales he thought it was the "wrong choice" for Mr Drakeford to attend the tournament. | Sir Ed Davey, the UK's Lib Dem leader, told BBC Wales he thought it was the "wrong choice" for Mr Drakeford to attend the tournament. |
| In response to the comments, Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru's MS for Ceredigion and the Senedd's Llywydd said it was "right" for the first minister go, calling Mr Davey's comments a "cheap shot". | In response to the comments, Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru's MS for Ceredigion and the Senedd's Llywydd said it was "right" for the first minister go, calling Mr Davey's comments a "cheap shot". |
| "If he wants impact, let him call on his own national team to boycott," she said in a Tweet, "not another nation's representation." | "If he wants impact, let him call on his own national team to boycott," she said in a Tweet, "not another nation's representation." |