York offering football-free spaces on campus for students who want to boycott World Cup

The University of York is offering alternative spaces for those wishing to boycott the World Cup due to Qatar’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicked off on Sunday November 20th at the Al Bayt Stadium. The game has been surrounded by controversy right from the start, and many people have decided to boycott it due to the country’s stance on homosexuality and workers’ rights.

York’s Student Union decided that whilst The Courtyard and Glasshouse will be showing every single World Cup Match, The Vanbrugh Arms and The Kitchen at Alcuin will be football-free zones. D-Bar will also only be showing the England Match on the 29th November.

The YUSU LGBTQ+ Network said: “While we can’t stop the game from being played or boycott them entirely at the university, we can boycott personally and offer an alternative place for people who feel deeply affected by this issue or who wish to stand in solidarity.”

Via @yorkunisu

The YUSU LGBTQ+ Network and the Women and Non-Binary Network have also worked together to put on alternative events and safe spaces during England’s matches. This includes a free pizza and board games night in D Bar tomorrow from 7:30pm.

The Women and Non-Binary Network will also be hosting a “Safe Space: Open mic, coffee and tea” in The Kitchen at Alcuin on the 29th November 7-9pm. This is designed as a “relaxed event which will take an open mic format, or if you want, just a free cup of tea or coffee and a chance to socialise outside of a World Cup space.”

The YUSU LGBTQ+ Network told The York Tab: “We believe that football, or any sport, should never mean more than the lives of minorities.Anyone who wishes to participate in or enjoy sport should be able to do so and be safe. This is not the case for fans or those competing in Qatar, and we think this is atrocious. This is damaging to communities outside Qatar, as the knowledge that organisations like FIFA are upholding these horrific laws in the host country affects fans and players worldwide.The fact that the English team has dropped their armbands through pressure from FIFA demonstrates a lack of care from governing bodies.

They continued: “While we can’t stop the game from being played or boycott them entirely at the university, we can boycott personally and offer an alternative place for people who feel deeply affected by this issue or who wish to stand in solidarity. Nobody is alone and  Minorities should always feel safe on campus.”

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