Phone Taken Away, Asked To Remove T-shirt: Journalist 'Detained' At Qatar World Cup Over Rainbow T-Shirt

Grant Wahl said that security at the World Cup stadium denied him entry to the United States’ opener against Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and was asked to take-off his shirt. 

US Journalist Grant Wahl said that he was briefly "detained" at Qatar World Cup

Source : Twitter/@GrantWahl

A US journalist said that he was briefly “detained” on Monday when he was trying to enter the FIFA World Cup stadium in Qatar while wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ community in a country where same-sex marriage is not legal. 

Grant Wahl alleged that security at the World Cup stadium denied him entry to the United States’ opener against Wales at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and was asked to take-off his shirt. 

He also claimed that his phone was also taken away when he tweeted about the incident. 

"I'm OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal," Wahl wrote on Twitter.

I’m OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal. Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays 🌈 https://t.co/S3INBoCz89

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) November 21, 2022

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

Seven European World Cup countries earlier on Monday ditched plans for their respective captains to wear OneLove armbands after FIFA threatened to issue yellow cards to any player wearing the multi-coloured armband, which was introduced to support diversity and inclusion.

England registered its win over Iran with 6-2 in the Group B match at the Khalifa International Stadium on the day 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2022.   

For England, Bukayo Saka scored a brace, while Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Jude Bellinghamand Raheem Sterling scored one goal apiece. Mehdi Taremi scored both goals for Iran. 

READ HERE: FIFA WC 2022 Qatar: England Begin World Cup Campaign With 6-2 Win Over Iran

The third match, played between Netherlands and Senegal on Monday, November 21 at Doha's Al Thumama Stadium was about to end in a dull tie just before Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaasen scored goals for Netherlands to help them secure a much-needed 2-0 win over Senegal. 

READ HERE: FIFA World Cup 2022: Gakpo, Klaasen Help Netherlands Seal 2-0 Win Over Senegal

For today’s schedule, Argentina and Saudi Arabia will be on the field for the first Group C match followed by Denmark versus Tunisia for the second Group B match. Second Group C match will be between Mexico and Poland.