Shrewsbury will instead host an open training session on the same day
Shrewsbury Town have cancelled a pre-season friendly against a side from Qatar following backlash from the club’s LGBTQ+ fans’ group.
Proud Salopians posted a statement on Twitter calling for the match against Qatar SC – scheduled to be played on July 6 – to be cancelled.
The statement read: “Proud Salopians express their collective disappointment that Shrewsbury Town have made the decision to play Qatar SC whilst on summer training camp next week. Whilst we have no animosity towards the fans, players or officials of Qatar SC, we feel strongly that the club ultimately represents a country with worrying stances against the LGBTQ+ community, women’s rights and overall human rights.
“Homosexuality is illegal, and under Qatari law carries the death sentence for Muslims, with hefty prison sentences for non-Muslims. Women are dependent on men for permission to marry, travel, pursue higher education or make decisions about their own children, and over 6,500 migrant workers (like to be an underestimate) have died in the country since the World Cup was announced to be held in Qatar back in 2010).
“Ideally we believe the friendly versus Qatar SC should not go ahead – indeed following similar concerns from sections of their fanbase Watford FC’s friendly vs the Qatar national team on their summer training camp has been cancelled. We understand of course that England and Wales will be heading to Qatar later in the year, but unlike these sides, Shrewsbury Town have made an active choice who they play against, and when.
“Given the complex logistics of arranging friendly matches during an overseas training camp. and with the game only being a week away, should the game remain scheduled we urge our club to display its support for ALL human rights, the LGBTQ+ community & women’s rights at the game – as part of our #SalopForAll ethos and in light of the clubs recent and ongoing support of HerGameToo, Kick It Out, and Rainbow Laces (amongst other campaigns).
“We strongly believe supporting any aspect of these regimes is morally wrong and ethically dubious, and welcome the opportunity for further fan and supporter group engagement with the club to ensure any future arrangements take into account any collective concerns.”
We were disappointed to learn of #Salop's plans to play Qatar SC in Spain. We urge our club to display support for ALL human rights, the #LGBTQ community & women's rights at the match, and ask for future engagement between club and all supporter groups to raise similar concerns pic.twitter.com/sXVn184X9U
— Proud Salopians 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@salopianpride) June 29, 2022
Salop released a statement announcing that the match had been called off, but did not give a reason why. The club stated that it had been arranged at short notice to replace a schedule fixture against Coventry City, which was also cancelled.
Our game against Qatar SC that was scheduled for next Wednesday (6th July) has been cancelled.
Instead, there will be an open training session where fans can meet players and new signings on the morning of the 6th and free transport will be provided for fans.
🔷🔶 #Salop
— Shrewsbury Town FC (@shrewsburytown) June 30, 2022
Shrewsbury to host open training session instead
The League One outfit will now host an open training session on the same day at their pre-season training camp in Valencia.
It comes after Shrewsbury revealed that their captain would wear a rainbow armband for the match against Qatar SC.
Watford cancel friendly against Qatar
Earlier this week, the Hornet’s proposed pre-season friendly with the Qatar national team was cancelled after opposition from fans’ groups.
The proposed pre-season friendly was criticised by supporters’ groups Women of Watford FC – a Watford women’s supporter group – and Proud Hornets, a Watford LGBT+ supporter group.
A joint statement from the two groups said: “WOW and Proud Hornets are very disappointed that Watford FC will play the Qatar national team at its training camp.
“We urge our team to display its support for all human rights, the LGBT+ community & women’s rights at the game and will discuss this directly with the club.”
WOW and @ProudHornets are very disappointed that Watford FC will play the Qatar national team at its training camp. We urge our team to display its support for all human rights, the LGBT+ community and women’s rights at the game, and will discuss this directly with the club. https://t.co/TF1f6Gu41T
— Women Of Watford FC (@WOWatfordFC) June 24, 2022
Related links:
- Shrewsbury Town captain to wear rainbow armband in friendly against Qatar
- Watford cancel Qatar friendly amid backlash from fans’ group
- Qatar beaten by Northern Irish side Linfield in friendly
