A woman whose daughter was raped and murdered in Qatar has called on the England squad to remember her on the pitch during the World Cup.
Lauren Patterson was working at a school in Qatar before her charred remains were found in the desert, when she was just 24-years-old.
Now, her mother Alison has written to Gareth Southgate and the England squad calling them to raise an ‘L’ shape with their hands during the World Cup in her memory.
Speaking about her daughter, she said: “She loved travelling and she was always a really happy person, really chatty.
Lauren Patterson's charred remains were found in the Qatari desert.
Image: GB News
“[The man who killed her] will be out next year, and he’s a young man, he can get married, have children, he can do all the things Lauren can’t do.”
The man who was convicted for her murder was given the death sentence, only for it to be reduced to ten years, and he will be out of prison shortly after the World Cup.
Speaking about the proposed gesture, Ms Patterson said: “The gesture is not just for Lauren, but change, change in Qatar’s justice system, change how minorities are treated so it means something important.
“Not just all about Lauren, it’s about everyone as a whole.”
Ms Patterson recalled travelling to Doha to see Qatari justice in action and being forced to stand side-by-side with the killer of his daughter.
Lauren's mother has called on the England team to perform a gesture in memory of her late daughter.
Image: GB News
Speaking on the harrowing ordeal, she said: “I could feel my legs shaking. My husband wanted to get up and hold my hand, but you can’t do that [in Qatar].”
She said the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar left her “angry” as past memories were brought back.
“Angry and upset. I took a step back and thought, it’s football, it’s a game, it’s something that can bring everyone together.
“So perhaps in some ways, it’s brought Lauren’s case to the forefront again.”
David Beckham has faced criticism in past months following his decision to act as an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup, a position Ms Patterson feels he can do “so much” in.
She said: “He can do so, so much. He is a hero out there, it would be a marvellous opportunity if he can stand up and do something.”
