The 64-year wait is over. Wales is playing on the biggest stage in international football - and here I am in Qatar with my son and partner Elin for the World Cup.
We all know of the robust debate in Wales about whether fans, politicians or even our players should in Qatar. Some good friends of mine travel to all Wales away games but, as members of the LGBTQ+ community, feel they can’t go to Qatar, for their own safety and in solidarity with members of their community oppressed there. My heart goes out to them.
The debate around Qatar’s human rights record is necessary, and it is right for our leaders to have been challenged relentlessly to progress change. But I believe that the players, teams, and fans have and will be able to promote positive change by going to Qatar.
The criticisms of those attending are misplaced, particularly those attacks towards First Minister Mark Drakeford and his delegation for travelling to the World Cup. Calling on the Welsh Government to boycott its football team and fellow nationals, who have worked so hard to make history and qualify for the highest level of international football, overlooks the importance of such sporting events for countries like Wales.
This is an important factor that must be brought into the balance in the debate. Our team didn’t choose to go to Qatar, Fifa sent them there and how and why that came about should be at the centre of the debate.
At a local level, sport has the power to encourage inclusivity in communities and inspire people. For many countries, major sporting events bring millions of people together and creates an unrivalled atmosphere of joy. The positive impact of sports on a nation is even more profound for Wales.
The remarkable success of our boys at the European Championships in 2016 was arguably the biggest factor in recent years for boosting Wales’ reputation on the international stage. It enabled millions of people around the world to witness the solidarity and passion of Welsh fans, with supporters from other countries commending, and inspired by, the Welsh spirit and dedication.
I remember the signs outside the bars in Bordeaux, the morning after we beat Slovakia, thanking our fans, wishing us well in the tournament, and welcoming us back . Since the Euros in 2016 I have not missed a single Welsh match, home or away.
I know first-hand how following the team can create a special relationship between players, fans and the countries and communities we visit. Our presence, voice and support is the ‘12th man’ that gives our players an extra advantage as they face larger and, on paper, stronger footballing nations.
Following Wales around the world, I have witnessed the power of travelling to different countries and engaging in debate and cultural exchange.
In Brussels last month for Wales’ Nations League game against Belgium, the local media reported how around 1,000 of us had taken over the square outside one of the biggest bars in the city, broke their all-time sales record, and, after the bar closed at 2:00am, tidied up all the rubbish and left the area in a better condition than we found it.
I am confident that Welsh fans will continue to leave a similarly positive impression on the Qatari people this winter and the thousands of people attending from elsewhere.
In Croatia a group of Welsh fans got into a detailed discussion with locals about how their country created a constitution so quickly after the Balkan’s war ended (perhaps with one eye on a future independent Wales). Many of The Red Wall of supporters are at the front of the ‘Yes Cymru’ movement and travelling with some of them is like being involved in politics.
Then we sing Dafydd Iwan’s Yma O Hyd. The Red Wall could be Wales’ marketing department.
Calls to boycott the World Cup prevent ordinary people from engaging with the tournament, the country and the issues around it. Meanwhile, turning our backs on an entire nation risks alienating Qatari citizens, who may ask us and our politicians why we aren’t boycotting other events too. I have always taken the view protests simply highlight issues; but constructive engagement forces change.
Not every country shares our values on human rights. But a sporting tournament helps develop a platform for further discussion, raise awareness and potentially influence a change in approach on the issues that matter to us all. Boycotting almost guarantees that doesn’t happen and prevents our fans from feeling the excitement of witnessing a historical moment for Welsh football.
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