Report: FIFA assures fans allowed to show support for LGBTQ+, carry rainbow colours

The football governing body has reportedly told federations that supporters are no longer banned from World Cup matches.

There was a massive controversy over LGBTQ+ signs before the start of FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Authorities, before the start of the tournament, warned fans of arrest over displaying the rainbow sign or the OneLove band.

Now FIFA has assured federations that fans displaying the rainbow colours as a sign of support for the LGBTQ+ community will no longer be stopped by security at the entrance of the World Cup stadiums. Officials have now accepted that as a positive change.

Before this Fans showing support for the LGBTQ+ community were prohibited from entering the stadium. Now as per a report, the game’s governing body has assured that there will not be any issue regarding this from now.

In the opening round of games, several teams pulled out from the planned gesture. Due to objections from authorities, FIFA had also threatened to book players wearing the ‘One Love’ armband.

Qatar’s views & laws on Homosexuality are strict. They asked everyone coming into the World Cup to respect the law of the land. Earlier, a group of Wales fans had to leave out their Rainbow hat to enter the stadium for the match against the USA. After this incident, Wales Football Federation also sought a reply from FIFA over this incident. Qatar has also banned consuming alcohol and revealing clothes.

There has been severe criticism over things banned in FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. This is arguably the first time in any FIFA World Cup edition that fans will be entering the stadium without alcoholic drinks. Fans have already witnessed two big upsets at FIFA World Cup 2022 with Saudi Arabia beating Argentina and Japan defeating Germany.