Qatar 2002 World Cup and gay rights: a journalist arrested for a T-shirt and a swaggering journalist with a “One Love” bracelet

The FIFA regulations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are controversial but clear: the use of political symbols during the tournament or demonstrate in favor of causes such as equal marriage, which is banned in the country. sexual orientationaccording to the football organization and the host country, it follows, it is a political issue.

And just as the provision is clear -although it has generated unease in many nations that have targeted the organizing country for human rights violations- it has also what are its consequences for violating it: “Those who do not comply with the norm will receive a sanction“, the organizing authorities of the World Cup have announced on more than one occasion.

But the warnings weren’t enough to stop the daring of two journalists which this Monday went viral on social networks for use leaders in favor of the LGBTIQ+ movement during the second day of the event. In Qatar, where prison is an option.

It concerns Grant Wahlfrom the United States, and the reporter alex scottfrom England, which brought them near the colorful stadium of the symbology of said community. The first was arrested while the woman managed to get on the air with a clear slogan bracelet: “One Love”“.

The first known case was that of the American, who heand forbidden to enter the stadium Ahmad Bin Ali and was delayed for wearing an illustrated shirt with a ball and a rainbow around him as he was on his way to watch his team’s debut against Wales.

He recounted it on his social networks: “When I arrived at the stadium’s media entrance to follow the match wearing a shirt with a rainbow soccer ball in support of the LGBTQ community, the security guards they refused to let me in, they held me for 25 minutes and angrily they asked me to take off my shirt,” he said.

And he said they asked, “You need to change your shirt. Not allowed“. “Same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar. But FIFA has been clear that the the rainbow flag would be welcome at the World Cup“reflects the reporter.

“The Qatari regime, however, has said very little on the subject, which scares that things are different in the field. A moment after you tweeted it, a guard he took my phone by force got out of hand,” he said.

“It’s been almost half an hour. A security guard told me my t-shirt was ‘political’ and it was not allowed. Another one continually refused to give me my phone back. Another guard yelled at me, standing over me -I was already sitting on a chair-, that I had to take off my shirt, “he closed that he was finally released and was able to watch the stadium.

Alex Scott, the woman who went on air with a “One Love” bracelet.

After her story went viral, social network users started leaking an event that happened on British television, which had gone unnoticed – or so it seemed.

Is that during the broadcast of the England-Iran match, a commentator who was on the playing field went on the air with a “One Love” bracelet.

This is Alex Scott. former Arsenal and England women’s international player who traveled to Qatar to cover the World Cup on the BBC.

In one of the viralized captures, seen working normally inside the stadium wearing the colors of the LGBTIQ+ movement without anyone intervening.

The match and broadcast ended normally and the reporter did not mention what happened. In this sense, it did not emerge whether she was sanctioned in this regard.

At least, at the end of the day, the reporter did an publication on your Instagram profile. It was a photo of him on the pitch and just a heart emoji. You can see it in the photo, of course. with the bracelet.

DS