Video: Two Brazilian journalists are reprimanded in Qatar for confusing the Pernambuco flag with the LGBT one

Among the prohibitions that abound in Qatar, the absolute monarchy Arab country ruled for decades by the Al Thani family, the authorities had issued a warning in view of the World Cup: not to display the flags of the LGBT community.

This is how, by mistake, two Brazilian journalists had a bad time in Doha. One of them, Víctor Pereira, said security officers with FIFA credentials scolded them when they saw them taking a picture with the state flag of Pernambuco.

The authorities, he denounced, forbade him to display the banner, which also has a rainbow like that of gay pride, for confuse it with the flag of the LGTBI community. In his Twitter account, she also repudiated that “they threw him and trampled him”.

It all happened on the outskirts of the Lusail stadium. There, journalists posed next to tourists with the Brazilian state flag. Shortly before they had witnessed the defeat of the Argentina national team against Saudi Arabia.

In the midst of the tense moment, which was filmed and included loud speech, Pereira said some people came over and helped them “smooth the situation”. For this reason, they searched for photos of the Pernambuco flag on cell phones and showed them to the agents.

This flag has represented them since 1817, the rainbow, in this case, symbolizes the unity of the country and refers to the diversity of those who were united around an ideal.

Pereira also revealed that the authorities they forced him to delete a video he had on his phone about the police action. “I showed my journalist credentials and said I would not delete it. The policeman then replied: ‘I better delete it’. At this point, there were already many security guards surrounding us and I had a lot of fear for our safety,” he explained to the Brazilian portal. GZH extension.

After the bad moment lived, he asked for it “that those involved are identified and punished”as “there were security cameras near where the event occurred”.

“I want FIFA and the organizations involved in the Cup to ask for it I apologize to the people of Pernambucoto the Brazilian people, to me and, above all, to the LGBTI community, because, in reality, the aggression was directed against them”, he repudiated.

Meanwhile, his colleague Kelvin Maciel told the site g1 from Grupo Globo that the episode “gave them a feeling of revolt”.

“At no point were they even allowed to explain that the flag we brought here is our state flag, which we are so proud of,” he asked.

And he concluded: “We were just working, exercising our role as journalists covering the biggest football event on the planet.”

A clear but controversial regulation

FIFA’s rules for the World Cup are controversial but clear: the use of political symbols during the tournament is not allowed, nor is it allowed to demonstrate in favor of causes such as equal marriage, which is banned in the country. Sexual orientation, according to the football organization and the host country, it is clear, it is a political issue.

And just as the measure is clear – though it has generated unease in many nations that have targeted the organizing country for human rights violations – so are its consequences for its violation: “Those who do not comply with the law will receive a fine”the organizing authorities of the World Cup have announced on more than one occasion.

Last Monday, two journalists went viral on social media for wearing pro-LGBTIQ clothing during the second day of the demonstration. In Qatar, where prison is an option.

They are Grant Wahl, from the United States, and the reporter Alex Scott, from England, who showed up in Qatar with the multicolored symbols of that community. The first was arrested while the woman managed to get on the air with a bracelet with a clear slogan: “One Love”.

The “One Love” bracelet, another controversy

This Wednesday it was learned that Germany has filed an appeal with the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) against FIFA’s decision to ban the use of the “One Love” rainbow bracelet in Qatar.

Stefan Simon, a spokesman for the German Football Association, has revealed that legal action has already been launched against FIFA after its refusal to allow German captain Manuel Neuer to wear the rainbow armband.

“We want to clarify whether his procedure is indeed legitimate,” Simon said in statements to the paper Bildin front of the reproaches of the body chaired by Gianni Infantino who ensured that wearing that bracelet would have been like wearing “a political one”.

However, German sports minister Nancy Faeser was shown wearing the armband in the stands during the Europeans match against Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

Teams from England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland were forced to abandon wearing the crest this week after FIFA threatened each team’s captains with “sporting penalties”.

The initiative of the aforementioned teams and several players to protest against the discrimination of the LGTBI collective in Qatar has generated controversy in FIFA and now the final decision rests with the CAS.