Dua Lipa rubbishes reports she will perform at World Cup opening in Qatar

entertainment
Dua Lipa Rubbishes Reports She Will Perform At World Cup Opening In Qatar
Dua Lipa, © PA Archive/PA Images
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By Alex Green, PA Acting Deputy Entertainment Editor

Dua Lipa has denied reports that she will perform at the World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar.

The chart-topping 27-year-old singer, born in London to parents from Kosovo, said she will play in the country if it improves its record on human rights.

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Controversy has surrounded the football tournament with Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers and criminalisation of same-sex relationships under the spotlight.

After reports linking her to the event, Lipa shared a statement on Instagram, writing: “There is currently a lot of speculation that I will be performing at the opening ceremony of the world cup in Qatar.

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“I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform.

“I will be cheering England on from afar and I look forward to visiting Qatar when it has fulfilled all the human rights pledges it made when it won the right to host the World Cup.

“One love, Dua.”

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The treatment of the LGBTQ+ community in Qatar has been a cause for concern for supporters hoping to travel to the country to see their side in action.

Lipa is not the first musician to make a point of avoiding playing concerts there.

Sir Rod Stewart recently revealed he turned down more than a million dollars to play in the country last year.

He told the Sunday Times: “I turned it down. It’s not right to go. And the Iranians should be out too for supplying arms.”

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