PETER Tatchell was arrested in Qatar while staging a one-man protest against Qatarâs treatment of gay people.
The activist was pictured holding a placard supporting Qatari people, just 26 days before the start of the football World Cup.
The current whereabouts of Mr Tatchell are unknown.
Speaking from Qatar shortly before his protest, he said: âThere can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal regime like Qatar.
“It is a homophobic, sexist and racist dictatorship.
âQatar cannot be allowed to sportswash its reputation. It is using the World Cup to enhance its international image.
âI did this protest to shine a light on Qatarâs human rights abuses against LGBT+ people, women, migrant workers and liberal Qataris. I am supporting their brave battle against tyranny.â
England manager Gareth Southgate said earlier this yearthat it’s âhorribleâ that female and gay England fans fear travelling to the World Cup.
Over the summer World Cup chiefs said they have been given assurancesthat gay fans will not be persecuted when they visit the country in November.
A Uefa working party, includingà FAà chief executive Mark Bullingham, travelled to Doha for a third scoping visit.
There have been suggestions that hotels mightà prevent gay couples from sharing rooms but Uefa said: âLGBTQI+ rights were discussed at length.
âAssurances were provided regardingà fans being safely welcomed with rainbow flags, in line with previous statements welcoming everyone to Qatar and ensuring local culture and customs are respected.Ã
Uefa added that meetings had been held with a number of agencies includingà Qatarâs ruling Supreme Committee and the countryâs FA as well as human rights organisations.
Migrant workers told the Uefa group that they still needed additional legal support, shelters for abused workers and translation services to fill in official forms and access to information on rights.