I’m absolutely delighted to have out and proud Beth Mead, the England women’s football team’s Euro star, on the cover of this month’s DIVA. As we go to press the men’s World Cup in Qatar is about to kick off and the difference could not be more profound.

While many of the Lionesses, as well as the US women’s football team, are openly LGBTQIA, there is sadly not one out gay player in the whole of the World Cup. Although a small number of other male players have openly come out, this World Cup in particular presents many challenges. Does the culture of men’s football still not allow for LGBTQIA players to comfortably talk about their sexuality? This is hardly helped by FIFA allowing such a high-profile event to take place in Qatar, a country where being gay is illegal and LGBTQIA people could be jailed or even sentenced to death. It is outrageous that the World Cup is being held in a place with such a poor human rights record. A number of players and teams have shared their support for the LGBTQIA community, and many have criticised David Beckham, who has a reported £10 million deal, for being the Qatar World Cup ambassador. Support from our community helped propelled Beckham from a football star to an international icon, and I believe his role as ambassador is shameful.