Portugal's clash with Uruguay at the World Cup was halted after a fan ran onto pitch with rainbow flag.
The incident occurred minutes before Portugal took a 1-0 lead through Bruno Fernandes. The man holding the pride flag was also wearing a t-shirt which read 'Save Ukraine' on the front and on the back read 'Respect For Iranian Women'.
He was promptly removed from the pitch by security, having made his feelings known on Qatar's discriminatory laws for members of the LGBTQ+ community, the raging war in Ukraine and women's rights protests in Iran - which've also been seen at the World Cup. Iranian referee Alireza Faghani got hold of the rainbow flag before a member of staff at Stadium 974 swiftly took it out of sight.
FIFA have come under intense scrutiny for threatening to punish teams who sport the rainbow symbol, which is one of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. Seven nations were due to wear it on their captain's armbands as part of the 'OneLove' campaign, only for the federations to renege on their decision at the 11th hour after finding out that their players would've been yellow carded for it.
The head of Qatar's World Cup organising committee has accused the teams who wanted to wear the OneLove armband as sending a "very divisive message" to the Islamic and Arab world. Hassan al-Thawadi - who's the secretary general of the supreme World Cup committee for delivery and legacy - said that he had an "issue" with the seven nations' stance because he viewed it as a protest against Islamic values while an Islamic country hosts such a prominent event.
"If the teams decided to do it throughout the entire season, that is one thing," Al-Thawadi explained, having been asked whether he felt nervous by the armbands. "But if you're coming to make a point, or a statement in Qatar, that is something I have an issue with. And it goes back to the simple fact that this is a part of the world that has its own set of values.
"This is not Qatar I'm talking about, it's the Arab world. For the teams to come and preach or make statements, that's fine. But what you're essentially saying is you're protesting an Islamic country hosting an event. Where does that end? Does that mean no Islamic country can never be able to participate in anything?
"There's going to be different values and different views coming in. So, for me, if you're going to come specifically to make a statement here in Qatar – or specifically addressed to Qatar and by extension, the Islamic world – it leaves a very divisive message."
FIFA's message continues to be that 'everyone is welcome' in Qatar, with president Gianni Infantino declaring at a press conference ahead of the tournament: "Let me repeat it clearly - everyone will be welcomed to the tournament, regardless of their origin, background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality."
