U.S. journalist says he was detained at World Cup over rainbow shirt

[groundloop]

Source: Reuters


A U.S. journalist said he was briefly detained on Monday when he tried to enter a World Cup stadium in Qatar while wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ community in a country where same-sex relations are illegal.

Grant Wahl, a former Sports Illustrated journalist who now has his own website, said World Cup security denied him entry to the United States' opener against Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and asked him to take his shirt off.

He said his phone was taken away when he tweeted about the incident.

[snip]

He said a security commander later approached him, apologized and allowed him into the venue. He also later received an apology from a representative of FIFA, soccer's international governing body, he said.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/us-journalist-says-he-was-detained-world-cup-over-rainbow-shirt-2022-11-21/

[CurtEastPoint]

1. these money-making machines and their owners will learn one day to avoid places like that

[Alexander Of Assyria]

2. Over enthusiastic, radical religious security, it's looking like an isolated incident.

America has a huge air base in Qatar, among a few others dotting the region. American warmedia, which includes most, are not going to make a big deal of anything when shaking hands and sabres with a military partner.

[paleotn]

4. Al Udeid Air Force Base - Doha Qatar.

Home of US Central Command, and for good reason. CENTCOM is in charge of the Middle East and much of South Asia. Plus, Europe is dependent on Qatari nat. gas for the foreseeable future. As long as much of the world runs on hydrocarbons, we'll unfortunately have to put up with some of their bullshit. Sucks royally, but that's the world we live in.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

8. America is creating a fiction it's in charge of anything to justify the bloated budget and bring

non militarized nations to heel. Especially ones with fossil fuels…used to be bananas in Central America, same concept….military in support of commercial profit. It’s a tried and true use of a military…profit.

Where are the papers appointing America to be in charge??

[reACTIONary]

11. Let's reiterate...

"As long as much of the world runs on hydrocarbons..."

The economic security of the United States, of the free world, and of our allies outside the free world, depend on access to energy. Our military budget is more than worth it.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

17. Cant buy oil without a massive military? You can. Besides, America is huge exporter.

[reACTIONary]

20. Without a massive military...

... you can't even move it from one place to another. So no, you can't buy - or sell - oil without a massive military.

The petroleum market is a world market, providing a fundamental resource. It's not a local farm stand. What happens in one corner of the world affects all other corners of the world. And since those other actors are armed, we need to be armed also.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Not so isolated: many Welsh women were told to remove their rainbow hats

See https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217399940#post2

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) said it was "extremely disappointed" by reports that supporters and FAW staff members were asked to remove and discard their "rainbow wall" bucket hats before entry to the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

"The FAW has collated information on these alleged incidents and will be addressing this matter directly with Fifa today (Tuesday)," it said.
...
A group of her friends had rainbow wrist bands removed, she said, and another friend had his rainbow laces removed from his shoes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63710435

On BBC radio, they said they seemed to be picking on women with rainbow items rather than men.

[IronLionZion]

16. Which is why I would like to see an Independent Kurdistan

so we can have an air base in one Middle Eastern country that treats people as if they are human beings. Then we wouldn't have to rely on these other authoritarian regimes like Qatar, Turkey, Saudi, etc.

[Crowman2009]

3. I'd rather watch beer league soccer in the park w/o net.

Just chalk lines and orange cones for both sides of the goal. I'm not even watching the world cup on TV as part of my small effort to starve the beast known as FIFA.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. I like this reporter's shirt

Link to tweet

[Martin68]

6. The World Cup sold out when it chose Qatar as a host. I suspect heads will roll before this is over.

[GoneOffShore]

13. And it's going to Saudi in 2030.

[Snoopy 7]

7. just say no

I said I will not watch this championship, and I've watch many, because of when they announce the location of the tournament. I know there are sooooo many eyes that by their ignorance don't give a $hit about the dictators regime. Yes they will watch but, I won't. Their viewers count will be -1 because of my awareness of the people being unjustly treated.

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. No offense here, but I have to ask you

Do you also not watch any television or listen to the radio here in the US? There are plenty of people being unjustly treated here as well and those people (I use the term loosely here) who own those outlets are mostly supporters of those who cause said unjust treatment. Does your boycott also include their efforts?

[Elessar Zappa]

18. No comparison between the US and Qatar.

Sorry.

[OldBaldy1701E]

22. I was not trying to compare.

I was asking you if your efforts extend to such actions here in the U.S..

[GoneOffShore]

14. Welcome to DU.

[pfitz59]

15. As John Oliver said

Qatari citizens comprise ~10% of the population of Qatar. Autocratic potentate rules with iron fist. Women are property. 90% of residents are de-facto slaves. Very fucked up society. Standard for the region. "God' gave them unlimited oil wealth. Why should they change for us 'heathens'?

[demigoddess]

19. next time every one should wear a plain tee shirt in a color from the rainbow.

looking into the crowd would probably give a rainbow type vision. They would have to strip everyone!

[Temeret]

21. Very intolerant policies in Qatar

Very sad.