The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has confirmed fans will be able to bring bucket hats and rainbow flags to the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium during the Group B match between Wales and Iran World Cup 2022Friday (11/25).
The bucket hat represents the ‘Rainbow Wall’, a Welsh support group that is part of the LGBTQ community. The hat was created because it has a partnership with FAW.
FAW said on Tuesday it had contacted FIFA after staff members and fans were asked to remove and discard their hats before entering the stadium.
The incident occurred in their opening match against the United States, which ended in a 1-1 draw, on Monday (11/21). The ban on LGBTQ symbols at the 2022 World Cup is outlawed because same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar.
“In response to the FAW, FIFA can confirm that fans wearing Rainbow Wall bucket hats and rainbow flags will be allowed into the stadium for Wales’ match against Iran on Friday,” the FAW said in a statement.
“All World Cup venues have been contacted and instructed to follow the agreed rules and regulations.”
Earlier, seven European nations participating in the tournament abandoned plans to use the colorful OneLove captain’s armband to show support for diversity and inclusion.
The cancellation of the wearing of the captain’s armband came after FIFA threatened to issue a yellow card to every player or person wearing it.
An American journalist was also arrested briefly as he tried to enter the stadium wearing a rainbow jersey.
(sry / ha)
