A few days ago, two security officers with FIFA credentials arrested two Brazilian journalists for taking a photo with a flag in the colors of the LGBTQ+ community. Víctor Pereira, one of the victims, denounced that “the police” took the flag “and trampled on it”.
It all ended in a mess, when it was learned that all the men did was pose with the insignia of Pernambuco (which bears the colors of the rainbow), the state where they lived in Brazil.
FIFA and Qatar men seem to run after the rainbow, like in that legend you heard about as children. The myth He said that anyone who has found the beginning of the magical seven-color spectrum of light that forms in the sky after a storm, he would come across a leprechaun guarding a treasure and become rich. Of course, one could walk for hours towards that color palette and never find the starting point. It is that the image (which is formed by the presence of water in the air) can change places every time we take steps in its direction. This is how World Cup security seems to work: every time they chase a rainbow, a new one appears in another place.
The day Infantino felt cheerful
“Come to our country to do what you know makes us angry”, an Arab journalist named Mohamed Al-Kaabi tweeted yesterday, after a man invaded the playing field of the match between Portugal and Uruguay, with the flag representing the gay and lesbian communities. Even his shirt went on with a strong message: “Respect for Iranian women.”
A few days before the start of the World Cup Gianni Infantino he tried to clarify the situation: “Today I feel gay,” he said, but hours later prevented European national team players from wearing the “One love” bracelet. in support of LGBTQ+ people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, ‘queer’ and others).
Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper, warned he would wear the bracelet of contention on his international debut. And that he himself would pay the fine. However, hours later he took to the pitch with the official FIFA tape. The Germans made a big gesture and posed covering their mouths, a clear sign of the censorship that exists in the World Cup.
The official message of the Qatari authorities is that “everyone is welcome” in the emirate, despite its conservative laws forbidding homosexual and adulterous relationships.
The country’s Islamic conservatism was made clear when several spectators they confiscated rainbow shirts and caps at access controls at the stadium where the match between the USA and Wales was playedwhich ended in a 1-1 draw.
“While we were in the queue, we saw some people wearing a rainbow hat”, symbol of the Welsh LGBT supporters association Rainbow Wall, “they had to take it off”, Laura McAlister, former captain of the Welsh football team and who is currently part of the executive committee of your country’s football federation.
Rainbow Wall has posted a video on social media in which the former captain is seen trying to enter with that hat and a security agent who forces her to take it off.
“They said it was a forbidden symbol and we couldn’t bring it inside the stadium‘explained McAllister, who hid the hat inside his backpack and was able to wear it inside the stadium.’It was a small moral victory“, commented.
The Welsh association said they were “very disappointed” and said they “will address the matter directly with FIFA on Tuesday”.
Contacted by AFP, neither FIFA nor the Supreme Organizing Committee declined to comment on the incident.
American journalist Grant Wahl said on Twitter before the match that security officers arrested her for wearing a rainbow jersey.
Alex Scott, a former Arsenal player and now BBC analyst, flashed a ‘One Love’ bracelet during the England-Iran match live.
FIFA maintains an uneven position on this issueas it claims to be an organization “that supports the LGBTQI+ community”, but at the same time has threatened players with sporting sanctions if they wear the rainbow bracelet.
“Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel like a migrant worker,” Infantino said in a criticized speech on Saturday. That day, to complete the ridicule, it was enough for him to say: “I also have a gay friend.”
The controversy ended when it was decided on Monday to ban players from wearing the bracelet on the pitch.
The German team are “very sorry” they can’t wear it as it symbolizes freedom and diversity, Germany coach Hansi Flick said on Tuesday. And the Teutonic federation has threatened to sue FIFA over this affair.
Even UEFA, the European football confederation, took an ambiguous stance on LGBTQ+ people’s rights during last year’s Euro Cup.
On that occasion, while boasting of being an inclusive organization, it prevented the Allianz stadium in Munich from being lit up in rainbow colors before a match between the German team and Hungary, whose government has launched a series of homophobic laws.
Faced with more censorship and repression, the demonstrations do not stop reproducing, they multiply. And Qatari security is at a loss. Like you’re looking for the beginning of a rainbow that will never be found.
Julián Zocchi, with information from EFE, Clarín, Twitter and social networks.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.