Australian fan ‘barred from FIFA World Cup ticketing centre’ in Qatar over rainbow gay pride flag – Daily Mail
An Aussie fan in Qatar for the World Cup has claimed he was turned away from the ticketing centre after security found a rainbow pride flag in his bag.
The Socceroos supporter, who travelled to Doha to watch the side in action, asked to remain anonymous because he fears for his safety in Qatar, where homosexuality can be punishable by jail or even death by stoning.
Carrying a rainbow pride flag in his bag, the fan tried to enter the building at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, where the ticketing for the tournament can be purchased.
The fan said he was denied entry after the flag was found during a bag search, and has regretted going to Qatar altogether after the experience.
A Socceroos fan said he was refused entry into the ticketing centre in Doha, Qatar because he had a rainbow flag in his backpack
‘They told me I couldn’t come in after looking through my bag – I haven’t tried it at a game or anything after that experience,’ he told Wide World of Sports.
‘I really regret coming – but I came for the football.’
The Aussie fan is far from the first person to run into trouble while trying to protest against both FIFA and the Qatari regime with rainbow pride paraphernalia or clothing.
Former Wales captain Laura McAllister was one of a number of female fans who were told to take off their rainbow bucket hats ahead of their side’s World Cup opener against the USA. The men were allowed to keep them on.
Former Wales captain Laura McAllister was among female football fans who were ‘told to take off their rainbow bucket hats’ at the Qatari stadium ahead of the Dragons’ first match
Wales’ Rainbow Wall, a group of LGBTQ+ supporters, said male supporters wearing the hats were allowed to keep them but the accessories were taken from women
‘I pointed out that FIFA had made lots of comments about supporting LGBT rights in this tournament, and said to them that coming from a nation where we’re very passionate about equality for all people, I wasn’t going to take my hat off,’ the Welsh legend said.
‘They were insistent that unless I took the hat off we weren’t actually allowed to come into the stadium.’
American journalist Grant Wahl also had trouble getting into the same game while wearing a rainbow t-shirt.
‘Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. ‘You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed’,’ he posted on his website.
American reporter Grant Wahl claimed he was refused entry to a World Cup stadium in Qatar for wearing a rainbow t-shirt ahead of the US’s opener against Wales Monday
Around 50 minutes later he posted on his social media account, revealing that he had been detained for almost half an hour.
‘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’,’ Wahl wrote.
Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt had a little more luck, defying FIFA’s instructions not to protest with rainbow gay pride armbands, at the insistence of Qatar.
The 55-year-old, who is now a Danish Football Association official, wore a blue dress with rainbow sleeves to meet controversial FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, and continued to wear it during the national side’s 0-0 draw with Tunisia.
Former Danish Prime Minister, now Denmark Football Association official Helle Thorning-Schmidt, wears a rainbow-coloured outfit at the side’s match against Tunisia in Qatar. She said it was important that the fight for gay rights is not given up
Speaking to Danish publication NRK before Denmark’s first group game, the former Danish PM said that the fight for gay rights in football should not be given up.
‘I spoke with activists from the LGBTQ+ community in Qatar and I really had a good overview of the things that we can put in place to help them,’ said Thorning-Schmidt.
‘I fully support the seven teams who will not wear the armband in view of the heavy FIFA sanctions. The best thing we can hope for now is for one of the seven teams to win this Cup.’
Denmark was one of seven European countries who initially defied FIFA’s request for their captains not to wear rainbow armbands in support of LGBT+ rights.
All federations were then forced to back down when the sport’s governing body said they would issue an immediate yellow card, and further sanctions, to any player who took to the field in one.
The Scandinavian country has been publicly scathing of Infantino and FIFA of their handling, and awarding of, the World Cup in Qatar.
England captain Harry Kane, pictured wearing the rainbow ‘OneLove’ armband, was set to make the subtle protest in every game at the tournament before FIFA announcement anyone who wore it would face an immediate yellow card and further sanctions
They’ve also recently announced they will consider leaving FIFA, and will discuss the dramatic move with fellow UEFA member states.
The World Cup continues on Thursday night and Friday morning (AEDT) with four blockbuster clashes.
Switzerland will take on Cameroon at 9pm, Uruguay v South Korea will follow at 12am, Christiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will clash with Ghana at 3am before Brazil and Serbia will take part in a mouth-watering match-up at 6am.