The 2022 World Cup has been steeped in controversy since it was announced to be held in the staunchly anti-LGBTQ+ country of Qatar. Plenty of folks have spoken out against the country’s regressive and violent laws, but one brave crowd member took his protest to the next level.
In the middle of the widely televised match between Portugal and Uruguay, an audience member took to the Lusail Iconic Stadium field waving a rainbow flag with the word “PACE”, or “peace” in Italian, written on it.
The protestor’s shirt bore the Superman emblem, as well as the phrase “Save Ukraine” on its front and “Respect Iranian women” on its back.
The broadcast tried to edit around him, but the flag was plainly seen:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
A guy carrying a Pride flag and wearing a shirt that says “Save Ukraine” on the front and “Respect for Iranian women” on the back just crashed the pitch at the World Cup in Qatar. pic.twitter.com/ShD5Umko2L
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 28, 2022
The feed even cut away from the referee simply for picking the flag up off of the pitch.
Related: LGBTQ folx and allies keep finding clever ways to defy Qatar’s ban of rainbow flags at the World Cup
The man was taken down by stadium security before making it off the field, but his statement was heard loud and clear.
Many are supporting his cause and calling for leniency in whatever punishment the protestor may face.
In a post-game interview, Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves spoke out in solidarity.
“Of course, we are all with them and the message on his shirt as well,” Neves states. “We hope nothing happens to the boy because we understand his message and I think all the world understood it as well.”
Related: This German soccer stud just screamed gay rights, and it wasn’t the first time
In addition to its treatment of queer people, the Qatari government has been called into question for its legal stances on women’s rights and the mistreatment of migrant workers who readied the country to hold the World Cup.
“We know what has happened around this World Cup,” Neves says plainly, adding that protest against it “is a normal thing that can happen.”
Between players like Neves and the German national team, it’s nice to know that at least some footballers choose to be on the right side of history. Who needs David Beckham, anyways?
bachy
I don’t get it. Since when did athletes and sports fans become such big, outspoken supporters of gay rights? I don’t recall any people from that social arena being such passionate “gay flag wavers” in the past. Have all these participating athletes and spectators found a sudden, profound passion for gays and the gay movement? Or is this some bizarre new phenomenon, a flagrant grandstanding for international attention, disguised as support for homosexuality?
Neoprene
Everyone is fluid now, dear. Didn’t you get the memo?
Jack Meoff
We’ve always wanted progress and this is progress yet still you want to sh!t on it.
Ronbo
Visibility debunks the denier’s messages, so keep it up. Good people make waves for the all right reasons.
Neoprene
To paraphrase psychologist Steven Pinker: Nothing bothers progressives more than progress.
DCguy
@Neoprene
Awwww, the right wing troll account hates progress, therefore tries to post on any article about it which an attack on progressives.
Although it’s cute you’re trying to rehab your other screename “Ronbo” and make people forget that it’s just another right wing troll screename.
DBMC
Is it a problem for you?
DBMC
@Neoprene
Are you just making random posts that have nothing to do with anything today?
barryaksarben
OMG LOL if you are not some troll with this ridiculous. comment you are even older than I am. Sports teams have come around to supporting gays for the last 20 or more years. After murders like Matthew Shepard many college teams started talking about fairness and it progressed from there. Since gays are more and more likely not to hide themselves from their family, friends and teammates that many younger people awoke to the inherent homophobia in our society and are against it. AS for athletes I remember the summer MEXICO Olympic Games where the black runners raised their fists in protest to racial injustice. Sports has a very clear history of pushing society to stop its most hatefilled practices
bachy
I’m sorry everyone, please don’t hate me, but it just strikes me as bizarre that the social milieu that has historically been the most cruelly oppressive (jocks) are suddenly rushing the stadium, posing rebelliously for the cameras and waving rainbow flags to defend gay rights, despite the risk imprisonment and worse.
Jim
KUDOS
DCguy
FIFA is’t being nutral, FIFA has sided with anti-LGBTQ hate. And if the cameras cut away then the broadcasters have sided with bigotry also.
SDR94103
agree
Fahd
Kudos to this protester who has repeatedly streaked with human rights messages. However, given the scale of the World Cup and its impact around the world – for example, more than 60% of households in Spain watched the Spain-Germany game live, these laudable protests are proverbials drops in the bucket.
How long must the world wait for fundamental FIFA reform?
barryaksarben
FIFA is so corrupt I am surprised they haven’t approached or bee approached by trump and his criminal mob
DBMC
Very brave, but I fear for him.
rockland2u
out athletes are more free to be who they are now, because in the past it was career suicide, like most professions to come out, so its just a new thing, hopefully one day when someone is situation to announce they are gay, society will respond with a “so” or “and?” because its no big deal
williamdaw
Perhaps I’m wrong, but I believe the flag he is carrying is that, that is seen all over Italy at protest for Peace. It’s not the Pride flag.
Stefano
I think you are right. It has nothing to do with the gay flag.