THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND WOMEN'S CAPTAIN Katie McCabe says that she will be giving the upcoming World Cup in Qatar 'a miss'.
The World Cup takes place this month in the Middle East for the first time ever, but it has been plagued by controversy prior to its opening game on the 20th of November.
Qatar has come under fire for its views towards LGTBQ+ people and for its treatment of migrant workers building the stadiums.
Thousands of people have died and been underpaid constructing the new stadiums for the upcoming football tournament.
McCabe who is openly LGTQ+ herself has called on other nations to 'take a stand' and follow the lead of the likes of Denmark and Australia, who have both slammed the Qatari's less progressive views on human rights issues.
The Dubliners Arsenal team-mates, Beth Mead and Lotte Wubben-Moy have also said they won't be watching the football tournament this week.
That’s Beth Mead, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Katie McCabe from Arsenal who have all confirmed they won’t be watching the World Cup in Qatar 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/XwN0mlAnmH
— Kathleen McNamee (@kathleen_mcn) November 8, 2022
"The World Cup is a world stage. Obviously, Harry Kane wearing the rainbow captain's armband will be massive and I think it will raise visibility over the key issues in Qatar right now and I hope other nations do that and take a stand while playing the games," said the Ireland captain.
"I won't have time to watch it, to be honest. We are straight back into Champions League football. It's a fickle thing, what is going on over there, and the whole background around it. For me, if Ireland isn't in it, I don't really fancy it, so I think I will be giving that one a miss.
The Arsenal starlet has also confirmed her focus won't be on Qatar because Stephen Kenny's side didn't make it.
"What is going on there isn't great. It's not a good look for football, but the decision has been made. The World Cup will continue, and hopefully, there won't be any bad news stories around it and it will just be football played, and that will be it. For me, I won't be watching it. Ireland isn't in it and I will be busy playing Champions League and WSL games."
The first World Cup game takes place on the 20th of November. Educador will play Qatar that Sunday.
