"We've had people say that if they find us they'll stab us," he said. "I could go out and almost go back into the closet and act butch, but that kind of plays exactly into what we are trying to show is an issue."

Precautionary guidelines had already been put in place by FARE, which is a group that campaigns for equality in football, but the threats off the back of this warning are more recent.

Transgender people had also been advised if using the toilets to either have someone accompany them or to use the disabled ones.

"It's not like I'm going to be sticking my tongue down people's throats or anything," Joe continued. "I'm going out there for the football and to experience the World Cup."

Joe plans to take rainbow flags to the event and send a message of equality and the existence of LGBT+ football fans.

Back in 2017 David Haigh, a top football club's ex-director said that at least 20 football stars are gay and afraid to come out. He was openly gay during his time in Leeds United and recalled many players confiding in him about their sexuality as a result.

American star Robbie Rogers came out recently and received a standing ovation in the U.K; something that would most likely not happen in Russia.

Russia has arguably the worst LGBT+ rights in the developed world.