Reporter Stirs up Controversy After Being ‘Detained’ for Wearing a Rainbow Shirt to Qatar Stadium for World Cup Match

A reporter chose to shine the spotlight on himself today ahead of the USA-Wales match as he decided to attend with a rainbow shirt.

Reporter Grant Wahl announced in a tweet prior to the game that a security guard was refusing to let him into the stadium for USA-Wales.

“You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed,” Wahl said that the guard told him while sharing a picture of himself wearing the shirt.

Not long thereafter, Wahl then said in a quote tweet, “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,” Wahl added along with a rainbow emoji.

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

The statement from Wahl comes after the soccer captains of seven European teams reversed course on wearing rainbow armbands during the World Cup to promote a message of LGBTQ inclusion in a nation where homosexuality is illegal.

The move came after the teams faced heat from the sport’s ruling body FIFA, which threatened yellow cards for those who wore them.

Wales, the USA’s opponent, was among the teams that had pledged to wear the armband, as well as England, which is also in USA’s group.