James Cleverly was accused of being tone-deaf after he urged LGBT fans to be respectful of the ban on homosexuality in Qatar.
On Wednesday, Cleverly was asked about the country's human rights and LGBT rights record.
Homosexuality is illegal in the country and human rights abuses are on a large scale according to a pre-tournament report.
The foreign secretary stated that they have important partners in the Middle East. The Muslim countries have a different cultural start point than we do.
It's important for visitors to respect the culture of their host nation.
He said that they talk to them about how important it is that people's rights are respected.
We will continue to talk to them about it.
Within minutes of Cleverly's appearance, England LGBT+ supporters group 3Lions Pride said that his comments had been extremely helpful for fans travelling to next month's tournament.
The intervention shows a lack of understanding and context. We risk mental health crises if we are forced back into the closet if we are made to feel less queer.
It's not an option for everybody. Some trans and gender diverse fans don't have the option of being less visible. Over the past few years, we've sought answers, assurances and details and this PR line of a "World Cup for all" is not backed by action.
The UK minister endorsing it as a legitimate aim undermines our work and our conversations.
This statement ignores the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people and plays into the fractioning of us as either "tolerable" or "queer".
Lucy Powell said that Mr Cleverly's comments were tone-deaf.
She said that many fans would not be able to attend the tournament because of the record of the country.
The government should challenge FIFA on how they put fans in this position, and ensure the safety of all fans attending, not defending discrimination.
The foreign secretary's comments come a day after a British LGBT activist claimed he was briefly "detained" in the Gulf state after staging a one-man protest.
The 75-year-old said that he was held for 49 minutes and that no arrests were made.
The government should use its "public voice to condemn the appalling human rights abuses" committed in the country, according to Mr. Tatchell.
The goal of sports-washing its appalling reputation during the World Cup will be achieved if we don't speak out. The abuses being carried out by the regime can be highlighted by Mr Cleverly.
The World Cup should be boycotted and fans should use their social media to amplify the shocking human rights abuses by the state. Going to the World Cup is colluding with a fascist regime.
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