Grant Wahl, an American journalist, was arrested on Monday, November 21 for wearing a rainbow-themed shirt in support of the LGBTQ community.
Journalist Grant Wahl, who writes for Sports Illustrated and runs a soccer Substack, revealed via his verified handle that he was denied entry to the stadium for Monday’s US-Wales 2022 World Cup match due to his shirt.
He was detained for over an hour after his resistance before being led to the media center.
Wahl’s shirt featured an illustrative rainbow design, which is the LGBTQ community’s pride colour.
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.