Portugal clash with Uruguay at World Cup halted after protester with rainbow flag runs onto pitch and ‘frogmarched’ off
PORTUGAL’S clash with Uruguay was forced to stop after a spectator invaded the pitch carrying a rainbow flag.
The protester raced onto the field from the stands shortly just moments before Cristiano Ronaldo headed Portugal ahead in their World Cup Group H showdown.
AFPA pitch invader carrying a rainbow flag stopped Portugal’s clash with Uruguay[/caption]
ReutersThe protestor had ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front of his t-shirt[/caption]
ReutersITV’s commentary team said he was ‘frogmarched’ off by security[/caption]
The ITV cameras failed to show the individual, but commentator Jon Champion confirmed that they were carrying a rainbow flag.
Photos emerged later showing that the man was also wearing a blue t-shirt with the ‘Superman’ logo with the words ‘Save Ukraine’ written on it.
And on the back it had ‘Respect for Iranian Woman’ wrote on.
After the short delay, Champion added that security had caught the person and ‘frogmarched’ him off the grass.
It comes amid news that Qatar has been ordered by Fifa to stop forcing fans to remove their rainbow hats when they enter stadiums last week.
Security guards ahead of Wales’ 1-1 draw with the USA cracked down on fans wearing pro-LGBTQ+ clothing at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Fans reported being forced to remove rainbow-coloured bucket hats, rainbow wristbands and even rainbow laces.
And one man even reported he was refused entry to the stadium because he was wearing a T-shirt sporting a rainbow.
LGBTQ+ rights have been at the centre of controversies around the World Cup – with same-sex relationships punishable by death in Qatar.
Welsh fan group The Rainbow Wall reported only women were targeted and forced to remove their rainbow clobber.
And this included former Wales international football star Laura McAllister.
More to follow…
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