U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly sparked criticism Wednesday for urging LGBTQ+ football fans to be “respectful” of Qatari culture if they visit the country for the World Cup which begins next month.

Cleverly told Sky News that “we have incredibly important partners in the Middle East,” but as these are Muslim countries they have a “very different cultural starting point [from] us.”

Homosexuality is currently illegal in Qatar and can be punished with prison time.

The foreign secretary then said that it is important when visiting a country to “respect the culture of your host nation,” adding that he would still bring up the discussion about values and equal rights for members of all communities in talks with Qatar.

Cleverly added on LBC radio that he expects a “secure and exciting World Cup” under the condition that there is “a little bit of flex and compromise at both ends.”

Lucy Powell, the opposition Labour Party’s shadow culture secretary, called the remarks “shockingly tone deaf,” adding that many fans will not attend the tournament due to Qatar’s record on labor and LGBTQ+ rights.

The secretary’s remarks came a day after British activist Peter Tatchell said that he was temporarily detained in Doha, after holding a sign that read: “Qatar arrests LGBTs, puts them in jail and subjects them to ‘conversion’.”