Welsh fans who proudly donned the rainbow bucket hats had to forsake its ownership as they were denied entry to the Al Rayyan Stadium for their FIFA World Cup clash against USA on November 21. The hats raised an alarm at the forefront of the stadium which prompted security to intervene and stop the Welsh women in their tracks from gaining any further access.
The Welsh fans who were buzzing to see their team play at the showpiece tournament in what was their first World Cup fixture for 64 years had a dampener on their lively spirit.
Wales Rainbow Wall - a group of LGBTQ+ supporters tweeted that female supporters wearing rainbow bucket hats have had them confiscated before Wales’ match against the USA.
In a tweet right before the clash kicked off, the group tweeted “Our rainbow bucket hat. We are so proud of them, but news on the ground tonight is our welsh female supporters wearing them in #Qatar are having them taken off them, Not the men, just Women. “@Fifacom are you serious !! #LGBTQRights.”
Laura McAllister, a former Wales captain and Professor at Cardiff University, said that she had also been subjected to the same treatment as she was told to remove her rainbow bucket hat and it was taken from her.
The footage surfaced online and made rounds where former captain Luara as she is going through the security check she is ordered to take off the hat as it goes against the values of Qatar.
“Not the men, just women. @FIFAcom ARE YOU SERIOUS!!”: The Rainbow Wall wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the Wales team did a bang-up job to make up for the disappointment of the fans as they pulled out a last-minute draw against the USA.
Manager Rob Page said that he was oblivious to the happenings behind the scenes,
“It’s a shame they weren’t allowed to bring them in,” he was quoted as saying.
This decision comes after England and other European teams that take pride in sporting the 'one love armband' have backtracked from wearing it in the game. England who were willing to wear it did a U-turn on the decision after caving into the yellow card threats that would have been imposed on them, had they worn the LGBTQ+ support armband.
