Wales fans ‘have rainbow hats confiscated’ by Qatar officials at World Cup match | World News
Welsh supporters wearing rainbow bucket hats say they confiscated them ahead of their game against the United States.
LGBTQ+ support group Wales‘ Rainbow Wall said that while male fans wearing hats were allowed to keep them, female fans had their belongings taken by officials at the stadium. Cata before opening World Cup match schedule last night.
It comes amid a flurry of similar reports from supporters of different countries at the tournament, who have been stripped of their clothes or flags bearing rainbow designs.
Qatar – where homosexuality carries a prison sentence of up to three years and has a formidable human rights record – has faced growing condemnation for its approach.
Former Wales international footballer Laura McAllister, now a professor at Cardiff University, wrote on Twitter: “So despite the good words from @FIFAWorldCup before the event, the @Cymru rainbow bucket hat is down. confiscated at the stadium, including mine.
“I talked about this with the managers – we have video proof. This #WorldCup2022 will be better but we will continue to defend our values.”
Bucket hats have become hugely popular among Welsh fans over the past decade, with large numbers of spectators choosing to wear them when attending. the country’s first World Cup match since 1958.
Thousands of yellow, green and red suits were worn by the so-called “Red Wall”, with a rainbow version also being produced.
The Welsh Rainbow Walls wrote: “Our rainbow bucket hats. We’re very proud of them, but the news on the ground tonight is that our Wales female fans are wearing them at home. #Qatar is taking them off, not men, only women.
“Are you serious @Fifacom!! #LGBTQRights.”
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An American fan is also said to have been threatened on the subway train to the stadium for carrying a small rainbow flag.
A man who appeared to be a supporter of Qatar threatened to “kill” the man, saying the flag was “not allowed” and “that flag is banned in this country”.
“We have our own culture,” he added.