Rainbow flags could be taken from fans at the World Cup in Qatar to protect them from being attacked for promoting gay rights, according to a senior official overseeing security for the tournament.

Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari said LGBTQ couples would be welcomed and accepted in Qatar for the November 21- December 18 FIFA showpiece despite same-sex relations remaining criminalised in the conservative Gulf nation.

But he warned against the overt promotion of LGBTQ freedoms as symbolised by the rainbow flag that FIFA and World Cup organisers had previously said would be welcome across Qatar's eight stadiums.

"Because if it's not me, somebody else around him might attack [the fan] … I cannot guarantee the behaviour of the whole people. And I will tell him, 'Please, no need to really raise that flag at this point.'"

Major General Al Ansari is director of the Department of International Cooperation and chairman of the National Counterterrorism Committee at the Ministry of Interior where he discussed World Cup planning for an hour with AP.

"[If] you want to demonstrate your view about the [LGBTQ] situation, demonstrate it in a society where it will be accepted," he said.

"We realise that this man got the ticket, comes here to watch the game, not to demonstrate a political [opinion] or something which is in his mind.

The potential confiscation of supporters' flags was condemned as "deeply concerning" by fan and anti-discrimination campaigners.

In a joint response, Julia Ehrt, of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, and Ronain Evain, of Football Supporters Europe, said: "Often so-called 'protections' are in fact smokescreens to cover up human rights violations."

"FIFA and Qatar must address these concerns immediately, and show the world there is a chance of carrying out a rights-respecting and safe tournament for LGBTIQ fans," they said.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said this week in Doha: "Everyone will see that everyone is welcome here in Qatar, even if we speak about LGBTQ."

Major General Al Ansari said he was not telling LGBTQ fans to stay away from Qatar or warning them of facing prosecution.

"Reserve the room together, sleep together — this is something that's not in our concern," he said.

"We are here to manage the tournament. Let's not go beyond the individual personal things which might be happening between these people."

"Here we cannot change the laws," he added.

When it was pointed out that visiting fans and teams could take offence to the comments, Major General Al Ansari said he did not view them as discriminatory.

"I am risking … a minority view against a majority," he said.

"We have to be close to the problem before it erupts and gets out of control … If somebody attacks you, then I have to get involved and it will be too late."

FIFA chief social responsibility and education officer Joyce Cook said in 2020 that "rainbow flags, T-shirts will all be welcome in the stadium — that's a given. They understand very well that is our stance."

World Cup chief executive Nasser Al-Khater also said "we will respect" FIFA guidelines on allowing rainbow flags.

Loading

But Major General Al Ansari's comments about the confiscation of fans' rainbow flags have created confusion for activists, including Chris Paouros, a member of the English Football Association's inclusion advisory board and trustee with the anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, which wants a safe and inclusive tournament.

The FARE network, which monitors games for discrimination, called for the freedoms of fans to be respected at the World Cup.

"The idea that the flag, which is now a recognised universal symbol of diversity and equality, will be removed from people to protect them will not be considered acceptable, and will be seen as a pretext," FARE executive director Piara Powar said.

AP