Will Young is outraged by David Beckham’s ‘disgusting’ World Cup deal with Qatar

Will Young has sharply condemned David Beckham for the former footballer becoming Qatar’s paid ambassador during the World Cup.

The 43-year-old singer has urged Beckham to donate to LGBTQ+ charities and called his reported £10m deal “disgusting”.

The 2022 tournament began Sunday (November 20) in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal and anyone engaged in same-sex sexual activity can be punished with up to seven years in prison.

Young wrote on Instagram: “Of course, Qatar is not the only country in the world with appalling human rights abuses. The argument that sport is not political is ambiguous and two-sided.

“However, what is undoubtedly clear is that having a star like you @davidbeckham, whom I once sang to on your birthday (not for money I’d like to add quickly), disappointed me more than I can say.

“Our paths have crossed a few times because you’ve been with 19 Management and you’ve always been kind and generous…

“Here’s what irks me the most – no whispers from you David to show solidarity, no whispers from you to show support for the hands-on massacre of migrant workers, no whispers David to help LGBTQIA+ communities, who live in constant danger.”

pop idol Winner Young, who wrote the 2020 book be a gay man speaking about his experience of gay shame, Beckham has called for £1million to be donated to LGBTQ+ charities in Qatar for every year he serves as a paid ambassador.

He added: “Can anything be salvaged from this hideous deal? Perhaps these funds can help provide much-needed security for those living in terror while your placards smile down on the people of Qatar.”

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The Independent has reached out to Beckham’s rep for comment.

Young’s move comes after Joe Lycett offered to donate £10,000 of his own money to LGBTQ+ charities if Beckham ends sponsorship before the start of the World Cup. He threatened to destroy the money if not, and on Sunday posted a video of himself appearing to do so.

Lycett later revealed that the money he put in the shredder was real, what came out was fake and he actually donated to the charities.

The comedian then withdrew from a copy of Beckham’s 2002 attitude Cover which was the very first cover of a gay magazine with a Premier League footballer on it.

Lycett shredded the cover and made it clear that he had asked attitude for permission and they were “more than happy to comply.”

Many fans were also upset with Morgan Freeman being involved in the opening ceremony.

And numerous celebrities such as Dua Lipa and Shakira refused to perform at this year’s tournament to show their support for Qatar’s human rights abuses.

Additional coverage by Press Association