FIFA World Cup 2022: US journalist detained for wearing rainbow shirt in ‘anti-homosexual’ Qatar
FIFA had earlier said that rainbow flags would be allowed at the World Cup.
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Nov 22, 2022 8:40 pm
FIFA World Cup Qatar Rainbow (Image source: Twitter)
The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022 has been marred with controversy ever since the hosting rights was given to Qatar in 2010. Since then, the number of controversies have only grown in number with the latest being the banning of the ‘rainbow’ inside the stadium.
One incident that has begun another controversy is Qatar’s disallowance of the rainbow symbol inside the stadium. On the very second day of the mega event, a journalist from the USA was stopped from entering a World Cup stadium in Qatar. Grant Wahl was wearing a rainbow T-shirt which is a symbol of LGBTQ rights in the west and is illegal in Qatar.
In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal and intercourse with the same sex is criminalised with seven years of prison sentence and more. Recently a Qatar World Cup ambassador told a German TV that homosexuality was ‘damage to the mind’.
Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.” pic.twitter.com/TvSGThMYq8
On Monday, Wahl took to Twitter to draw everyone’s attention towards the disallowance with a picture of himself in the T-shirt. He captioned the post, “Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.”
I’m OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal. Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays 🌈 https://t.co/S3INBoCz89
After almost an hour, however, Wahl tweeted positive news, “I’m ok, but that was an unnecessary ordeal. Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays [rainbow symbol].
Both FIFA and US Soccer representatives told me publicly that rainbows on shirts and flags would not be a problem at the Qatar World Cup. The problem is they don't control this World Cup. The Qatari regime does, and it keeps moving the goalposts.https://t.co/1t1Wxz8w0Ppic.twitter.com/ZJmNn8sKwD
The Sports Illustrated journalist laid into the Qatari regime for not sticking to their promise with his next Tweet. He wrote, “Both FIFA and US Soccer representatives told me publicly that rainbows on shirts and flags would not be a problem at the Qatar World Cup. The problem is they don’t control this World Cup. The Qatari regime does and it keeps changing the goalposts.”
There was another report of a Welsh fan not being allowed to the stadium because of her rainbow hat ahead of the USA vs Wales game on Monday.
