England Lionesses legend Beth Mead says it is 'disappointing' the upcoming men's World Cup is being held in Qatar, where homosexuality can be punishable by death.

Mead, who is in a relationship with her Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema, said Qatar's values are the 'complete opposite' to hers and she cannot support the tournament in any way.

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

Six LGBT Qataris interviewed said they were forced to sign pledged saying they would 'cease immoral activity.'

A report by the same organisation last year said the Qatari authorities monitors and arrests LGBT people based on their online activities.

Qatar criminalises same-sex sexual activity and the maximum penalty is death by stoning.

England star Beth Mead (right), pictured with partner and Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema, has spoken out about the World Cup being staged in Qatar

The World Cup host has also been criticised for its treatment of the migrant workers employed to build stadiums and infrastructure ahead of the event.

A report by The Guardian last year said 6,500 workers from the Asian subcontinent had died working on construction projects in the decade since Qatar was awarded the World Cup.

Asked on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour about the World Cup being held there, Mead said: 'From the minute it was announced I thought, I mean it's not the best idea.

'Obviously the way they think and how they go is the complete opposite to what I believe and respect and although I'm cheering for the boys who are going to play football there, I still don't think it's the right place.

'Unfortunately, money talks and the situation, even of the stadiums being built and the amount of people that have passed because of that.

'I mean it's not an ideal situation, it's not something that I will be backing or promoting at all.

'But unfortunately it is going ahead and it's just disappointing, I guess, in that sense of there's no respect on a lot of levels even though it's a game of football.'

Mead was asked about the differences between the women's game, where same-sex relationships are accepted, and men's football, where it remains largely a taboo subject.

'We have made it the norm from day one, we have not felt the need to come out and make statements about who we're with and what we're doing, we have just classed it as normal life,' she said.

'If I want to put a picture on my Instagram with Viv, I do, but I don't caption it "this is my girlfriend, this is what we're doing blah blah blah…"

'Whereas in the men's game, they feel they have to make a statement because of that situation.

'For me, it's been a culture that needs to shift, we are in the 21st century and, at the end of the day, you fall in love with who you fall in love with, it doesn't matter who they are.

'That is the kind of perception we need to get across. Is it a generational thing, a cultural thing, in the game? I would love to help and bridge that gap and make it just the norm.'

Despite that, Mead admitted in a recent interview that she struggled with her sexuality for a long time but was now confident to speak out on the subject.

She even joked in an interview with the Times in August that her and Miedema were the new Posh and Becks 'of the lesbian world' in reference to England legend David Beckham and his wife Victoria.

'Actually, I've never physically come out and said I'm gay, I'm with a girl because I've not had to. I'm just being me. I've put pictures with my partner on social media. To me, I've tried to make it the normal rather than make it a statement,' Mead told Sky Sports.

'Obviously for the men right now, they have to put it out in the media to then see what reaction they get and I get the culture in the men's game is still very different and it is much, much harder. But for me, I want to bridge that gap and help the men as much as the women.

'It's a tough process. It is emotionally and physically draining, and I get all aspects for people, but for me, you can't help who you fall in love with and if you are happy at the end of the day.'