US Reporter Detained at World Cup Stadium for Wearing Rainbow Shirt Promoting Gay

On Monday, November 21, an American journalist was detained as a result of the Qatari government’s campaign against support for the LGBTQ community in their country.

Journalist Grant Wahl, who formerly wrote for Sports Illustrated which now runs a game of Substack covering soccer, ranted on Twitter that he was not allowed into the stadium for Monday’s US-Wales 2022 World Cup match because of his shirt.

His shirt had a soccer ball surrounded by a rainbow, which promotes the LGBTQ community.

Wahl tweeted that he was told: “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.”

US journalist detained at World Cup stadium over LGBTQ shirt

Later in the day, Wahl tweeted an update, saying he was “OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal”.

He wrote: “Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays.:

Earlier on Monday, Nov. 21, FIFA threatened European team captains with automatic yellow cards for wearing a “OneLove” armband, as they had planned to do, leading England’s Harry Kane to back down and wear a FIFA-sanctioned armband instead.

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