A man wearing a t-shirt with a rainbow encircling a football was stopped by a security guard from entering a game at World Cup 2022, being told what he was wearing isn't allowed.
Grant Wahl, a journalist and analyst for US broadcaster CBS Sports, is reporting that a security guard tried to refuse him entry into the Al Rayyan Stadium for USA's Group B clash with Wales, because of the clothes he had on.
Wahl tweeted: "Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. 'You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed'."
Eventually, the American reporter did manage to make it into the stadium, for which he is covering the match in a work capacity, but not without incident.
"I’m OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal. Am in the media centre, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays".
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/S3INBoCz89November 21, 2022
This incident comes after eight nations, including England, Wales and the Netherlands, confirmed their respective captains wouldn't be wearing the 'One Love' armband at the World Cup, after FIFA threatened sanctions against the players with immediate yellow cards during matches.
Initially the nations were planning to wear the multi-coloured armband throughout the tournament in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, in order to “promote inclusion and send a message against discrimination of any kind”.
However, the threat of bookings against players caused each nation to reverse its decision.
BBC pundit Alex Scott protested the FIFA, and nations', decision live on TV, though, wearing the OneLove armband live on BBC One in the absence of Harry Kane doing so ahead of the England versus Iran game.
