A first for this World Cup in a Qatar under pressure, criticized from all sides on the issue of human rights. On Monday, a man wearing a rainbow flag – and dressed in a T-shirt in support of Iranian women who are fighting to remove the veil – managed to enter by running on the lawn of the Lusail stadium in Doha, during the match between Portugal and Uruguay.
After running across the pitch for around 30 seconds, the young man was intercepted by security guards and calmly escorted by security out of the Lusail stadium, where the final will be played on December 18. The scene was shown only fleetingly on television images.
The man had a T-shirt stamped with the Superman logo with, on the front, an inscription in support of Ukraine (“Save Ukraine”, “Save Ukraine”) and on the back a message asking for respect for Iranian women (”Respect for Iranian Woman).
Enough to suggest, according to a Eurosport journalist, that it could be the Italian Mario Ferri, nicknamed “Il Falco”, who had already burst into football fields in the past, decked out in the same suit, and for similar stunts.
The Rainbow of Discord
The organizers of the 2022 World Cup are the target of many criticisms, in particular on the rights of LGBT + people. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar and several fans had rainbow-colored objects, armbands and the like, confiscated during the first round of the World Cup. At the beginning of November again, a Qatari ambassador described homosexuality as “mental damage”.
If FIFA assured that flags or clothes in the colors of the rainbow would be accepted in the stadiums, in fact, these were confiscated on several occasions by the security forces.
Seven European selections had said they intended to have their captain wear a “One Love” rainbow armband but finally gave up, Fifa having threatened them with sporting sanctions.
To counter these measures, several representatives have endorsed – or intend to endorse – a rainbow armband “OneLove”, such as the British Minister for Sports Stuart Andrew, or the German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser, in charge of sports . The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, did the same during the victory of the Red Devils against Canada in Qatar (2-1).
