War of words erupts after US journalist Grant Wahl 'detained' at Qatar World Cup 2022 stadium over LGBTQ shirt
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Nov 22, 2022, 1:39 AM ISTAmerican journalist Grant Wahl says he was detained by security staff after he wore a rainbow shirt to USA’s Qatar World Cup 2022 opener against Wales in Doha's Al Rayyan Stadium on Monday night.
An American journalist on Monday reported that security guards denied him entry into USA's Qatar World Cup 2022 opener against Wales, stating that the t-shirt bearing rainbow colours in support of the LGBTQ community was 'not allowed'.
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Grant Wahl, a CBS employee, was going to the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan to cover the match between the United States and Wales on Monday night as both teams kicked off their Group B campaigns. However, he could not do so because of his clothing, which he displayed in a picture posted on his Twitter account, which included a football surrounded by rainbow-striped colours.
"Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales," Wahl tweeted. "You have to change your shirt. It's not allowed,'" he reported the guard telling him.
Just now: Security guard refusing to let me into the stadium for USA-Wales. “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.” pic.twitter.com/TvSGThMYq8
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl)Security guards stopping the American journalist over his rainbow t-shirt came hours after England, Wales, Germany and other European nations were prevented from wearing the 'One Love' armband by FIFA.
Wahl has previously tweeted guidelines by FIFA on how stadium security should handle particular topics, such as flags or rainbow-coloured shirts.
According to those FIFA rules, "general statements in favour of positive values enshrined in the Fifa Statutes, such as human rights and anti-discrimination, are permitted."
In a graphic, there are "flags, shirts [or] shoelaces" that show, among other things, the universal colour schemes for pride and the acceptance of transgender people, as well as more specialised ones that offer support for Iranian women or Black Lives Matter.
Another Qatar World Cup 2022 branded graphic states "persons displaying the LGBTQI+ rights rainbow or other sexual identity flags will neither be approached, detained or prosecuted."
The message that this will be an inclusive World Cup finals has been pushed frequently by FIFA and the host nation, but ongoing regulatory changes at the last minute have consistently prevented teams from demonstrating, promoting, or supporting that strategy.
A little more than an hour after the initial tweet, Wahl tweeted again to let everyone know that he had successfully entered the building without making any changes.
"I'm OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal," he said. "Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays."
Grant Wahl's tweet, however, has sparked a massive war of words on Twitter, with some users mocking him for even daring to wear a rainbow t-shirt, while a few slammed Qatar once again for their approach towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Also read: Qatar World Cup 2022, ENG vs IRN: Supporters applaud as England pounds Iran 6-2
"Yell me that Qatar was a terrible choice for an international event w/o telling me that Qatar was a terrible choice for an international event," wrote Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ on the micro-blogging site.
Ghanem Nuseibeh, Founder Cornerstone Global Associates remarked, "Qatar is a disgrace. He is not a player. Qatar lied when it said everyone is welcome. What is @FIFAWorldCup excuse now?"
"As a Qatari I'm proud of what happened. I don't know when will the westerners realize that their values aren't universal. There are other cultures with different values that should be equally respected. Let's not forget that the West is not the spokesperson for humanity," wrote Nayef bin Nahar in support of the action taken by the stadium's security guards.
"What do they do in Qatar when #nature provides a rainbow?" asked another user on Twitter. "It's funny how you, a Western Leftie, thought you could somehow force a change in a country whose traditions and beliefs about these issues have been literally unchanged since the 7th Century AD," stated another Twitter user.
Here's a look at some of the other reactions:
Yell me that Qatar was a terrible choice for an international event w/o telling me that Qatar was a terrible choice for an international event. https://t.co/xp35hbTtrh
— Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ (@padresj)Qatar is a disgrace. He is not a player. Qatar lied when it said everyone is welcome. What is excuse now? https://t.co/yMBJ2XicRF
— Ghanem Nuseibeh (@gnuseibeh)As a Qatari I’m proud of what happened.
I don’t know when will the westerners realize that their values aren’t universal. There are other cultures with different values that should be equally respected.
Let’s not forget that the West is not the spokesperson for humanity. https://t.co/Oa8zvmk6P7
What do they do in Qatar when provides a rainbow? https://t.co/D5XxHOx3iO
— The Notorious A-N-DEE (@MamaCalisDead)Neymar finding out that he can't do rainbow flicks at the world cup😭 https://t.co/2O4fMoUU80 pic.twitter.com/DiSRHmarbZ
— Siuuu'bo 🇵🇹🏴 (@_SCThree)It's funny how you, a Western Leftie, thought you could somehow force a change in a country whose traditions and beliefs about these issues have been literally unchanged since the 7th Century AD. https://t.co/l2JdnXgy0o
— Oscar Von Reuenthal (@OscarVReuenthal)Go change the shirt. Your rants are very unnecessary. https://t.co/nhhFZvdeGI
— Zartash Chaudhry (@ZartashChaudhry)if you were truly against the world cup being held in qatar you simply wouldn’t be in the country and you certainly wouldn’t attend the games. i think the term you’re looking for for this behaviour is ‘virtue signalling’ hope this helps 👍 enjoy the game btw https://t.co/Z89qojM0wQ
— 🏴🇧🇷🇦🇷🇧🇪🇪🇸 (@zafirahafc)International event held in a human rights denying country is a disgrace in its own right. I never cared about football, but this is just disgusting. https://t.co/9SkuUMarpU
— Brak Sów (@exileoftza)Pathetic by the authorities if true https://t.co/oD5kCcwDwb
— Chris Bryant (@RhonddaBryant)One simply does not hold a modern global tournament in a medieval theocracy https://t.co/NXLnDTQGm1
— James Bloodworth 🇺🇦 (@J_Bloodworth)The number of commenters saying things like "their country their rules" and "respect their culture" and "just change your shirt" are so so so disappointing and frustrating. Movements for human rights have always, by definition, pushed back on the rules. https://t.co/TjvhxyOSGE
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic)You’re not going to shame Muslims into compliance. Instead of seeking tolerance, you demand acceptance. And now you’re in a country where you’ll be granted neither.
Muslims respect the laws of the countries they visit. You’d be wise to respect their laws when visiting my dude. https://t.co/LvTuIwwbqe
I stand for gay rights - human rights but when u wear a t-shirt like this to the venue you are TRYING to cause trouble . Seems like his goal is to get arrested there to make point https://t.co/Fyc1FB8M0f
— Gabriel Morency (@sportsrage)Oh, no! A gay sign in the sky! https://t.co/fOPp2KCAQc pic.twitter.com/n5KeLQxowW
— muero×salir 🥑 (@MueroPorSalir)I hope whoever gets caught in the bribery scheme that created this year's pays. This is beyond disgusting. wants the world's money without giving up any of its oppression. needs a house cleaning. https://t.co/Wsoqx6OEri
— Kevin Kane (@KevinKaneNY)"Opening our doors to all without discrimination to enjoy the football matches and the amazing atmosphere of the tournament" - Qatar head of state to the UN.
So much for that, and this is nowhere near a one off case.
What a disgusting world cup https://t.co/Pn3oz5FDRl
Look at that, an American going to another country and getting offended because their privilege isn’t working. Color me shocked. https://t.co/aruR3vbGtp
— Fréddhéryk (@Freddheryk)I'm not the biggest soccer/football fan, but do usually watch some World Cup matches. Not this year. I say no to Qatar and their bigotry. https://t.co/SrL8kzZGjg
— Ethan Bearman 🇺🇸✡️🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine (@EthanBearman)The replies on this tweet (from my twin, apparently) are so nauseating. “Respect their rules!” shout the gleeful homophobes who don’t care that the rules explicitly allow rainbow shirts. Even security officials on site apologized. He should never have been detained, period. https://t.co/jk9zzIXE6N pic.twitter.com/dSWseKJRrp
— 🇺🇦 David Griner 🇺🇦 (@griner)This is how tolerant and respectful people behave when they visit other countries and not impose their own views on other cultures. https://t.co/bbQUBcZfjD pic.twitter.com/eduLdUmBNf
— Yussuf B Ismail (@BillowIsmail)It Qatar you can get prison time for being gay. Any support of LGBTQ is not allowed.
Including a shirt.
Or Harry Kane from England wearing a “One Love” armband
Kind of like Texas https://t.co/tKmHpVcDD2
Qataris when Grant walks up https://t.co/ipB0vGWlp1 pic.twitter.com/9Y6b57IGGb
— Magills (@magills_)I guess all aren't welcome https://t.co/QjGleMPHeq pic.twitter.com/FGKyC7J2Q1
— Jean-Clawed Van Damme 🥊🥋🏀 (@MainEventTV_AKA)Freedom of expression not a thing in . https://t.co/eLBTHlCmct
— Jason Rezaian (@jrezaian)
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