A man carrying a rainbow flag charged across the pitch in tonight's World Cup game in protest at Qatar's homophobic regime
The protester was chased across the pitch by security guards, and was eventually grabbed and taken away. It is unclear what has happened to him.
The referee picked up the flag after he dropped it, while some fans cheered as the man was led off, seemingly in support of his protest. Being gay is illegal in Qatar, and carries the risk of a jail sentence or even being executed, although there are cases of capital punishment recorded. The country's homophobic regime was one of several issues that made holding the World Cup in Qatar controversial.Players from England and several other European countries had pledged to wear 'One Love' armbands in support of LGBT rights, but this gesture was quelled by tournament organisers FIFA, who threatened unlimited sanctions on any player seen wearing the armband.
Fans from several countries were stopped from entering stadiums while wearing rainbow-branded clothes earlier in the tournament, but FIFA have now said this will be allowed.
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