A Sussex council has invested millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money into accounts at a Qatari state bank.

An investigation found that, since 2017, Arun District Council has invested more than £88 million in accounts at the Qatar National Bank - the state bank of the hosts of this year’s World Cup.

Qatar has come under intense scrutiny in recent years over its treatment of migrant workers, women and LGBTQ+ people.

In recent days, supporters attending the World Cup have had rainbow-coloured bucket hats confiscated from authorities, with some claiming they were told it was a “banned symbol” - despite football body FIFA assuring fans that Pride flags and clothing were not prohibited.

It has been reported that a US sports reporter was detained for wearing a rainbow shirt and told he could not watch a World Cup fixture unless he changed.

The council confirmed it currently has £7 million invested with the bank in the gas-rich Gulf state, which has been criticised by Amnesty International over forced-labour, recruitment abuse and the deaths of thousands of migrant workers.

A spokesman for the council said: “Arun District Council has £7 million invested with Qatar National Bank.

“At this point in time, we have decided not to place further investments with Qatar.

“The existing investments will be reviewed.”

The Guardian investigation found that at least 27 councils had invested more than £1 billion combined with the bank since 2017.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino hit out at criticism of Qatar from European nations.

Ahead of the opening game of the World Cup, he said: “We have told many, many lessons from some Europeans and from the western world.

“I think for what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should be apologising for the next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people.”

Infantino was criticised for declaring “today I feel gay”, referencing discrimination his family faced as Italian migrants in Switzerland and how he was bullied because of his red hair and freckles.