Gist
US Journalist Detained At World Cup Stadium Over LGBT Shirt
An American journalist, Grant Wahl was detained on Monday, November 21 for donning a rainbow-themed shirt in support of the LGBTQ community.
Journalist Grant Wahl, who runs a Substack covering soccer and formerly wrote for Sports Illustrated, revealed via his verified handle that he was not allowed into the stadium for Monday’s US-Wales 2022 World Cup match because of his shirt.
Following his resistance, he was then detained for over an hour before being led to the media center.
Wahl’s shirt bore an illustrative rainbow design which is considered the pride colour of the LGBTQ community.
Wahl tweeted that he was told: “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.”
Later in the day, Wahl tweeted an update, saying he was “OK, but that was an unnecessary ordeal”.
He wrote: “Am in the media center, still wearing my shirt. Was detained for nearly half an hour. Go gays.:
Earlier on Monday, Nov. 21, FIFA threatened European team captains with automatic yellow cards for wearing a “OneLove” armband, as they had planned to do, leading England’s Harry Kane to back down and wear a FIFA-sanctioned armband instead.
