The political message was multiple to be certain that it passes. A man waving the LGBT rainbow flag and wearing a flocked “Superman” logo t-shirt, which featured messages of support for Iranian women and Ukraine, quickly entered the lawn of the stadium of Lusail in Doha, Qatar, Monday, November 28, in the middle of the match between Portugal and Uruguay.

The message “Save Ukraine” (“save Ukraine”) was written on the front of the t-shirt when was written on the back “Respect for Iranian women” (“respect for Iranian women”). After running across the pitch for about 30 seconds, the man was intercepted by security guards and escorted out of the stadium, where the World Cup final will be played on December 18.

The scene was shown only fleetingly on television, as is often the case when a fan bursts onto the pitch during a FIFA competition match as well as in UEFA, in an attempt to avoid any flooding wave of the stadium. If his action was not filmed, we could see the referee of the meeting picking up the flag before going to drop it out of bounds. No information on this man was immediately available.

Strong criticism and political gestures

The organizers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar are the target of numerous criticisms on the issue of human rights, as well as the rights of women and LGBT people, in a country where homosexuality is notably liable to criminal prosecution.

If FIFA assured that flags or clothes in the colors of the rainbow would be accepted in the stadiums, in fact, these were confiscated on several occasions by the security forces. And while seven European selections had said their intention to have their captain wear a rainbow armband ” One Love “they finally gave up in the face of threats of sporting sanctions brandished by FIFA.

British Sports Minister Stuart Andrew, however, announced that he would wear it on Tuesday during the match between England and Wales, two of the seven selections who have given up wearing it. For its part, the English fan group 3LionsPride, which represents LGBT+ supporters, decided before the competition that its members would not travel to Qatar.

“These games should be a celebration for all the fans, but unfortunately many of them feel that is not the case. It’s not a tournament for them. They felt they couldn’t be a part of it and that’s not acceptable.”regretted the minister.

He will not be the first member of a government to display a political message in Qatar by wearing this armband. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, responsible for sport, wore it next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino during Germany’s loss to Japan last Wednesday. The same day, the Belgian Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib, did the same during the victory of the Red Devils against Canada.