In letter, FIFA asks World Cup teams to avoid political debate

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written a letter to the 32 participants in the World Cup in Qatar asking them to focus on the tournament and "not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists.", rported dpa.

The letter was obtained by British broadcasters Sky News and the German football federation (DFB) confirmed it to dpa on Friday.

Infantino said everyone will be welcome in Qatar "regardless of origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation or nationality," and asked teams to "let football take centre stage."

Sky said the letter doesn't address the request by eight European nations for their captains to wear "One Love" multicoloured armbands at the World Cup which are a response to concerns about Qatar's anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

The country has been widely criticized for its anti-LGBTQ+ stance, but also for their treatment of foreign workers involved in the construction of World Cup stadiums and alleged other human rights breaches.

In response, the German Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) is calling on the football associations to stop supporting governing body FIFA.

"Do not believe any more in the fairy tale that FIFA's tournaments would be a gain for the host nations," the LSVD said in a statement on Friday.