A football-loving pub in Easton has narrowly decided to show the World Cup games this year - but has vowed not to profit as a result. The Plough, which is proud to be “frequented by LGBTQ+, anti-racist, diverse, football-loving humans” hopes to raise “thousands and thousands” for human rights charities instead during this year’s tournament.
Pub innkeeper Tom Quarrelle told Bristol Live of how the pub had been torn between a full boycott of the game they love or collaborating “with corruption, homophobia and human rights abuses”. After discussions with the pub’s sports teams and regular punters, they decided to use the games to raise awareness and money to help proactively challenge those abuses.
The devastating stories of migrant workers in Qatar who built the stadiums for the World Cup, alongside the country’s restrictive laws for women and LGBTQ+ people, have been well-documented by human rights organisations. Less than a week since the tournament started, some of these issues have now gained the attention of the world’s media.
READ MORE: Bristol pub sends stark message to FIFA over Qatar human rights abuses
So far the pub has raised £500 in donations but it’s early days and alongside customer donations they have just set up a crowdfunder and will all donate profits generated during the tournament. Customers at the busy pub hold a variety of opinions on the games and the Plough’s stance, which is seen as a positive for management who want to open up a discussion on the issue and say they value the thoughts and feelings of all who call the pub their local.
Tom said: “People have died during the building of the stadiums that have no purpose after the tournament. Qatar is a country with no history of football whose homophobic laws could put many of our family in jail or worse.
“As custodians of this institution we consider the thoughts and feelings of all of our customers, balancing the books in the current cost of living crisis whilst staying true to our personal beliefs.
“We consulted our regulars and sports teams (Easton Cowfolk) and made the decision to show the games and donate any profits raised in solidarity to those impacted by FIFA’s greed. FIFA put us and everyone else in this really difficult position: boycott the game we love that is interwoven in the fabric of the pub or collaborate with corruption, homophobia and human rights abuses.
“A full boycott means the majority of our customers would have to go elsewhere or watch it at home. By using the games to raise awareness and money to counter homophobia and human rights abuses, we hope we can do more good than harm.
“We don’t agree with those who accuse us of virtue signalling. Giving a s*** about basic human rights is hardly virtuous - it is bare minimum humanity. Our main concern was that our LGBTQ+ family might feel unwelcome if we showed the games - we put a shout out and were assured it wasn’t the case.
“With that in mind, we decided to show the games because we genuinely believe it means there are more conversations happening in the pub. It’s amazing to see gay rights being openly discussed in the media and sports people openly supporting LGBTQ+ rights on the world stage when only a few years ago it was unheard of.
“Iran's protest was valiant. Yesterday the rainbow flag was an ‘illegal symbol’ and today it’s allowed in stadiums.
“Although a good month could be a life-saver in the face of huge bills and a recession, we will not profit from this World Cup. All donations and profit generated from the games will be passed in solidarity to organisations fighting for the rights of those affected by homophobia and oppression.
'Online critics'
“We’ve not had much [criticism] in real life, but to our online critics we say come talk to us. Every choice we make as consumers makes us hypocrites.
“Our taxes fund wars, Facebook is a platform that monetises and perpetuates hate, fossil fuels are destroying the environment, much of our veg is grown by migrant workers in terrible conditions in the polytunnels of Europe. Every choice makes us complicit in systems of oppression.”
The Plough is expecting a lively and diverse crowd for the England game tonight where their sports teams will be handing out leaflets and collecting donations. The DJ will be playing some gay anthems with Blatter and Invantino mashups, Tom has been told.
“We will show the game to a mental busy pub full of LGBTQ+, anti racist, diverse, football-loving humans, raise loads of noise, awareness and money. F*** FIFA for hijacking football, which for us is about inclusivity and coming together,” added Tom.
The pub decided to set up a crowdfunder for people who want to support the initiative but can't make it to the pub or don't want to watch the games. The pub has a growing list of causes they want to support through the funds raised, including many local Bristol charities.
Some of the charities The Plough will be supporting include Human Dignity Trust , Aid Box and Bristol Refugee Rights. You can contribute to their World Cup crowd funder here and find more about the pub’s football and sports teams here.
In response to criticism about human rights in Qatar before the tournament began, FIFA president Gianni Infantino issued a lengthy response in which he remained adamant that members of the LGBTQ+ community will be safe and welcome in Qatar, despite the country’s laws which criminalise same-sex relationships.
“Everyone is welcome. If you are a person who says the opposite, it is not the opinion of the country and certainly not of FIFA,” he said. “Everyone who comes is welcome, whatever religion, race, sex orientation, belief she or he has. This was our requirement and the Qatari state sticks to that requirement.”
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