How can we work together to support London’s LGBT+ football fans who are feeling excluded from football by FIFA’s decision to host the World Cup consecutively in two firmly anti-LGBT+ countries?

Holding major sports events is a privilege, not a right. I am proud that London has had the privilege of hosting huge world-leading events in recent years, including the Men’s Euro Finals, the National Football League, Major League Baseball and now the biggest women’s football tournament finals in the world, the Women’s Euro 2022 Finals. Every city or country hosting a prestigious tournament like the FIFA World Cup has been entrusted by the International Federation to deliver an event that enhances the sports reputation and broaden its popularity and appeal. London takes its responsibilities seriously and we have made sure that our sporting events show off the best of London, including our commitment to openness, diversity and inclusion.

I have been clear that I stand in solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) communities, and the record-breaking celebrations we hosted of 50 years of Pride earlier this month show how valued those communities are in London. It has been fantastic to see the celebration of Pride continue at this month’s UEFA Women’s Euro Finals and the Pride rainbow flag can be seen across this tournament. At times, it is in the background of the Championship logo, it is on team captains’ armbands and the fan favourite Tiny Football Car has a rainbow livery. This celebration of Pride builds on wider work by the Football Association (FA) to tackle homophobia in football, including support for the Rainbow Laces Campaign, which has been adopted by professional and non-league clubs across the country. However, creating real change must incorporate activity beyond the big stadiums and that is why I have been so pleased to see extensive engagement with clubs and communities around the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 tournament. I went for a kick about with some truly diverse --

Mr Mayor, I am really sorry, but I am short on time, and it is a very important question. Please could you just answer whether you will join the collective campaign that Stonewall and the FA have already said they would be interested in, making sure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Londoners feel welcome during the World Cup in Qatar this year [2022]?

Mr Mayor, can you answer the question, please?

The supplementary before I answer the main one?

Mr Mayor, I thought we would probably be on the equal footing and in the same place on this. It is a very simple question.

Assembly Member --

I would hope you would be in favour, and I am only interrupting because we are very short on time. I would hope you would agree to that today.

OK, sorry. I want to answer the question. What is the new question?

It actually was the question before you and you are not answering it. It is whether you will join a collective campaign this December [2022]. You mentioned Rainbow Laces, and Rainbow Laces will not be able to take place during Qatar. This is the second consecutive World Cup in which FIFA has chosen to hold a World Cup in a place where LGBT [fans] are not welcome.

Assembly Member --

Will you join that campaign?

You are now out of time.

Will you join that campaign, yes or no?

You are out of time now.

Outrageous. Just answer.

I have made -- hang on. Hang on. I am the Chair of the Assembly here. I make the decision. Assembly Member Best, you can write to the Mayor and I am sure we can get an answer there.

I have written. He has not responded. It is a yes or no question.

OK. You are out of time. That is the end of it, OK?

Susan Hall AM: It will have to be a no.

Tony Devenish AM: Outrageous.

OK, can we move on to the next question, please?