Wales fans have LGBTQ bucket hats confiscated in Qatar ahead of World Cup clash

Wales fans attending their World Cup clash with the USA had their rainbow bucket hats confiscated by security.

The Rainbow Wall, an LGBTQ+ supporters group for the Welsh national team who designed the hats, initially reported that only females were having them taken away. They later updated that men had also suffered the same treatment at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium.

Amongst those impacted was former Wales captain Laura McAllister. She tweeted: "So, despite fine words from @FIFAWorldCup before event @Cymru rainbow Bucket hats confiscated at stadium, mine included. I had a conversation about this with stewards – we have video evidence. This #WorldCup2022 just gets better but we will continue stand up for our values."

READ MORE: Reporter denied entry to World Cup over LGBTQ symbol and told 'change shirt'

The footage showed McAllister being confronted by security staff after she went through the metal detectors at the ground. She attemped to state her case but was flatly refused entry with the bucket hat on.

McAllister later revealed when speaking to ITV that the guards had told her the hat was "a banned symbol", adding: "I pointed out that FIFA had made lots of comments about supporting LGBT rights in this tournament, and said to them that coming from a nation where we’re very passionate about equality for all people, I wasn’t going to take my hat off."

She ultimately managed a "small moral victory" by sneaking it through in her handbag. An American reporter was similarly refused entry to the game.

Grant Wahl, a journalist for CBS Sports, donned a t-shirt which had a rainbow surrounding a football on it. He claims to have been detained for 25 minutes with guards demanding he change his top.

Wahl was eventually let into the ground and issued with an apology, but many Wales fans had to part ways with their bucket hats so they could get in.

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