Doha airport scandal: Sydney Swans seek answers from sponsor Qatar Airways

The Sydney Swans are seeking answers from their corporate partner, Qatar Airways, after female passengers were subjected to intimate medical examinations at Doha airport. The AFL club, who have held a sponsorship deal with the airline since 2016, said they were “deeply concerned” by reports last week that women, including a number of Australians, were strip-searched in early October after a newborn baby was found in the terminal. The incidents – which involved women on 10 flights, including 18 on planes bound for Sydney – caused international outrage and prompted the Qatari government to refer those responsible to the public prosecution office. “We were deeply concerned by the media reports last week involving the treatment of female passengers at Hamad International Airport in Doha,” a Swans spokesperson said. “The club has sought more information on the situation and that dialogue is continuing between our two organisations.” The Swans and the state-owned airline renewed the partnership when an original three-year deal expired last year. At the time, the Swans came under pressure from the club’s strong LGBTQ+ community to walk away from signing a new agreement. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and the deal was labelled as “hypocrisy” by the ABC commentator Corbin Middlemas, who came out as gay in 2018. As part of the ongoing deal with Sydney, Qatar Airways receives prominent branding at Swans home games and their training ground, while players are involved in marketing and promotional activities. The Swans’ official supporters group said it was taking the airport incidents “very seriously” and also confirmed it was seeking answers from the airline.<br/>