Two days after their World Cup debut —a 1-1 draw against the United States—, Wales found a way to demonstrate against Qatar and its policy of intolerance towards the LGBTQIA+ population.
On the morning of this Wednesday (23), the team’s delegation planted a flag with the rainbow and the image of the shield of Wales in the center at the Al Sadd SC training centre.
The demonstration comes after Fifa threatened seven European federations with sanctions if their captains wore the armband with the rainbow and the inscription “One Love” – in addition to the Welshman Gareth Bale, England, Denmark, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland would have their captains with the armband in support of the LGBTQIA+ cause.
Still in the duel against the United States, Welsh fans had problems at the stadium door for wearing hats with the colors of the rainbow.
Stadium security asked fans to remove their hats. “Securities told me that the rainbow is a banned symbol in stadiums. I insisted and said that in my country we are passionate about equality between people. I heard that if I didn’t take my hat off, I wouldn’t be able to enter the stadium,” he said. Laura McAllister, former player and captain of the Wales women’s national team, for British broadcaster ITV.
This Wednesday (23), the German team also protested against the armband veto. The 11 starting players posed for the official photo with their hands over their mouths, as a sign of censorship.
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.
