A USA fan was ‘aggressively’ removed from his seat and dragged out of the stadium for wearing a rainbow armband ahead of his country’s clash against Iran at the World Cup.
The World Cup has witnessed multiple incidents of fans being barred entry or detained for wearing rainbow-colored pieces if clothing. In Qatar, homosexuality is illegal and the tournament has faced criticism for ‘sportwashing’ the host nation’s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
American citizen, Brian Davis, had arrived at the Al Thumama Stadium Tuesday to watch the USA take on Iran in a must-win game on the final matchday of Group B.
Davis had worn a rainbow-colored armband, which he claimed security at the stadium’s entrance had said was okay to enter with.
However, he claimed that while he was sat in his seat waiting for kickoff, he was approached by another member of staff who told him he was not allowed to wear the armband.
Davis revealed he refused to remove it and insisted he was permitted to wear it, which was when police arrived on the scene and forcibly removed him from his seat.
A USA fan was ‘aggressively’ removed from his seat fo wearing a rainbow-colored armband
In a clip shared by Danish reporter Rasmus Tantholdt, Davis could be seen calmly standing inside the stadium building while multiple Qatari police surrounded him.
The guards tried to prevent Tantholdt from filming with one even holding his hand up in an attempt to block the camera.
Tantholdt, who was involved in an incident before the tournament even begun when security staff threatened to smash his camera live on air, repeatedly told them he was allowed to film as a member of the media.
The guards then backed away and Davis told Tantholdt he was alright. He said: ‘They [the police] twisted my arm a little bit but other than that I’m fine. It was very aggressive.’
Police officers surrounded Davis after he was removed with one trying to prevent filming
Davis later revealed he had been allowed to return to the stands, posting a photo to Twitter
Davis was later allowed to reenter the stadium and took to Twitter to post a photo of himself back in the stands giving a thumbs up and writing: ‘Today was a bit eventful. But I’m I’m ready for the game.’
Before the tournament got underway, FIFA revealed that team captains could face a booking and potential suspension if they go through with their decision to wear the OneLove rainbow armband in a mark of solidarity for the LGBT+ community.
Captains of nine European nations, including USA’s Group B rivals England’s Harry Kane and Wales’ Gareth Bale, were planning to wear the One Love armbands promoting inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights in Qatar, a country which criminalizes same-sex relationships.
England and six European nations were forced to stand down and did not wear the OneLove armbands in Qatar after FIFA threatened sporting sanctions for those wearing it.
The decision was made that England captain Harry Kane would not wear One Love armband
The FA made the call amid fears the England skipper would be booked immediately for it
England and Wales fans reportedly faced stricter security checks ahead of their Group B, which was played at the same time as the USA’s, after a supporter invaded the field with a rainbow flag during Portugal’s win against Uruguay on Monday.
During the Group H match activist Mario Ferri ran onto the pitch at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar wearing a Superman T-shirt bearing the words ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front and ‘Respect for Iranian woman’ on the back.
Security officials chased after Ferri, who was also holding a rainbow-coloured flag, before he was escorted away.
Ferri, who is described in his Instagram bio as a footballer and influencer, updated his followers on Tuesday saying ‘I am free’.
The man stormed onto the pitch in the second half of the game waving the Pride flag
The man was tackled to the ground by security during the pro-LGBT rights protest in Qatar
After running around the pitch for a few minutes, the demonstrator was led away by security
He was bundled away by security moments after storming onto the pitch during the match between Portugal and Uruguay
Earlier in the tournament, American soccer reporter Grant Wahl claimed he was refused entry to a World Cup stadium in Qatar for wearing a rainbow shirt.
Wahl was attending the USA’s first game of the World Cup against Wales and wore a black t-shirt with a circle in the colors of the rainbow wrapping around a soccer ball on the front, in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
He took to Twitter to claim that he was initially refused entry to the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and detained for almost half an hour before being allowed in.
American soccer 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
Wahl later revealed that he was finally granted entry to the media center after being detained for almost half an hour and reassured social media users that he was okay
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