Arsenal and England forward Beth Mead has said she will not support the forthcoming men's World Cup in Qatar, where being gay is illegal.

Lionesses star and Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Mead told BBC Radio 4 the ban on homosexuality in Qatar was “the complete opposite to what I believe and respect”.

“It’s not something I will be backing or promoting,” Mead said. “It’s disappointing in the sense that there’s no respect on a lot of levels, even though it’s a game of football."

“Although I’m cheering for the boys who are going to play football there, from the minute it was announced I thought it wasn’t the best idea,” Mead said. “We’re in the 21st century and you fall in love with who you fall in love with. It doesn’t matter who they are.”

Last month, a report by Human Rights Watch said security forces in Qatar had been randomly arresting LGBT people and subjecting them to physical abuse while detained.

Mead who is in a relationship with Arsenal collegue Viv Miedema, said she never felt she had to hide her relationship with Miedema.

“In the men’s game they feel they have to make a statement of the situation," Mead said, adding: "It’s been a culture, and that culture needs to shift. Is it a generation thing? Is it a culture thing in the game?

"I would love to help try and bridge that gap to just try and make it the norm.”

Beth Mead on Women’s Hour re Qatar’s stance on gay people: “Complete opposite to what I believe & respect. It’s not something I will be backing or promoting. It’s disappointing…there’s no respect on a lot of levels, even though it’s a game of football.”Well said @bmeado9 pic.twitter.com/GD0lZxDsRh

— Layth (@laythy29) November 4, 2022

‘Let football take the stage’ says FIFA’s Infantino. In a country where being gay is illegal. Where deaths of migrants workers ignored. Where LGBTQ+ are arrested & tortured & where as Beth Mead so rightly says: ‘You’re not allowed to love who you want to love.’ No chance Gianni

— Layth (@laythy29) November 4, 2022