Protestor with rainbow flag runs onto area at World Cup

A protestor ran onto the sphere Monday carrying a rainbow flag and sporting a blue Superman T-shirt that mentioned “SAVE UKRAINE” on the entrance and “RESPECT FOR IRANIAN WOMAN” on the again throughout a World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay.

Security officers chased the protestor down and the flag was dropped on the sphere earlier than the particular person was escorted away. The referee then picked up the flag and left it on the sideline, the place it stayed for a number of moments earlier than a employee got here and picked up it.

The protestor was ushered away via a tunnel. It wasn’t instantly clear if the particular person confronted any costs or had been detained by police.

FIFA had no speedy touch upon the incident.

The pitch invader in the course of the sport of Portugal vs Uruguay! pic.twitter.com/Bxrj6qvUhf

— 𝘼𝙗𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙝 ⓫ – عبدالله 🇪🇸 (@abdallah_rm11) November 28, 2022

In the primary week of the event in Qatar, seven European groups misplaced the battle to put on multi-colored “One Love” armbands throughout World Cup matches. Fans additionally complained they weren’t allowed to deliver gadgets with rainbow colours, a logo of LGBTQ rights, into the stadiums of the conservative Islamic emirate.

Qatar’s legal guidelines towards homosexual intercourse and therapy of LGBTQ individuals have been flashpoints within the run-up to the primary World Cup to be held within the Middle East. Qatar has mentioned everybody was welcome, together with LGBTQ followers, however that guests ought to respect the nation’s tradition.

The incident occurred in the course of the second half of the sport at Lusail Stadium.