The Pernambuco flag was mistaken for an LGBTQIA+ symbol around the Lusail National Stadium, in Qatar.
According to the journalist Victor Pereira, an unidentified man, who was wearing a dishdasha —traditional white dress in Qatar— and wore FIFA credentials, advanced on a woman, who had just taken a photo with Victor, took the flag from her hands, threw it on the ground and trampled. The aggressor confused the flag with an LGBTQIA+ symbol due to the rainbow in its design.
The journalist claims he was filming the situation when the attacker took his cell phone, forcing him to delete the video he was recording and threatening to throw the device to the ground. Victor is accredited to cover the World Cup by several media vehicles and followed the match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia.
In another video, recorded by a third party, he appears arguing with the man, surrounded by people in uniform who carry credentials on their chest —volunteer employees of the Cup.
The violation of LGBTQIA+ rights in Qatar is one of the main subjects of the Cup. In recent days, protests have been recorded in Europe against the holding of the event in the country.
National teams from the old continent also threatened to enter the field with messages against homophobia, but were blocked by FIFA, which decided to punish with yellow cards those who manifest and released official captain’s armbands for use in the game, preventing personalized versions by the teams.
Pantone, a world reference in color systems and technologies for their accurate reproduction, has launched a white LGBTQIA+ flag, replacing the colors with the Pantone codes that refer to them, as a way of circumventing the ban on the flag in Qatar.
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
