FIFA have reportedly reminded Qatar they must allow rainbow symbols to be worn at the World Cup after security officials stepped in to remove them from fans.
The rainbow has become associated with the LGBT+ community, who are persecuted in Qatar. Mirror Football has previously revealed how security forces in the Middle Eastern Emirate hunt down, arrest and beat LGBT+ people, with same-sex relationships outlawed and even punishable by death.
Some supporters have still been showing their support for the LGBT+ community by wearing rainbow clothing while attending the World Cup, despite those draconian laws. But Qatar has attempted to prevent that by confiscating the items and detaining people wearing them.
The most astonishing incidents came on Monday when Wales supporters had rainbow bucket hats confiscated and a journalist was detained for wearing a T-shirt with a rainbow football on it.
According to iNews, those incidents have now led to FIFA holding meetings with Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy of the World Cup. In those meetings it is said that FIFA made it clear that everyone should be welcomed at the tournament.
They also told the Qatari authorities to end the policy of removing rainbow items from supporters. It is said that those discussions remain ongoing, despite FIFA having frequently stated that wearing rainbow colours would be allowed at the tournament.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should the captains have worn the One Love armband despite FIFA's threats? Comment below.
The Qatari authorities have never made the same commitment publicly though, with many LGBT+ people choosing not to attend the tournament due to fears for their safety.
While FIFA have approached the Qatari authorities to tell them to allow the rainbow to be shown, the governing body has prevented captains of seven countries wearing the One Love armband.
The armband was set to be worn to show support for the LGBT+ community, though even that watered down message was stopped by FIFA, who threatened bookings for any captains wearing them.
Following their decision to ban the armband, FIFA faced heavy criticism, including from Three Lions Pride and Rainbow Wall, who are the LGBT+ fan groups for England and Wales respectively.
"All of us at 3 Lions Pride and The Rainbow Wall stand together in condemning the actions of FIFA today," a statement from the two groups read.
"In seeking to censor European FA's and players by forcing them to abandon using the ‘OneLove’ Armband aimed at tackling all forms of discrimination, FIFA are guilty of crushing the basic human rights to freedom of speech and of expression that every single one of us should have without question.
"In doing so, FIFA are also guilty of silencing anti-discrimination work within the game and of giving a platform to hatred. This abuse of power by those who have chosen to remain silent for so long is a gross betrayal of trust and cannot be allowed to stand.
"We have no faith in FIFA, no trust in this World Cup, there is No Pride Without All."
