The cameraman was wearing a colourful watch as he tried to get into the stadium (Picture: @natpirks)
Security staff told a BBC cameraman he couldn’t enter a World Cup ground because he was wearing a watch with a rainbow strap.
BBC sports reporter Natalie Pirks said her cameraman was stopped from getting into the Al Bayt stadium in Qatar after they spotted him wearing the pride-coloured watch.
After talking on a hotline set up for people with issues entering the stadium, eventually they got past security.
Natalie Tweeted: ‘Just arrived at the Al Bayt stadium for England’s game and my cameraman, wearing the rainbow coloured watch strap his son got him, was stopped by security and refused entry.
‘Clearly the message from FIFA is STILL not getting through,’ she added.
It is the latest backlash Qatari officials have faced after denying supporters entry into grounds for wearing Rainbow coloured items.
Earlier this week American journalist Grant Wahl said he was detained because he was wearing a T-shirt displaying an LGBTQ+ rainbow.
Grant Wahl was detained for wearing his pride t-shirt last week (Picture: @GrantWahl)
Wales bucket hats were also confiscated in Qatar (Picture: Twitter)
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Mr Wahl said a security guard refused to let him into the stadium when he tried to enter to watch the USA-Wales game last week.
Qatari authorities also took away a Brazillian flag from supporters after confusing it for a pride flag outside of the Lusail Stadium.
On Monday, Qatar guards confiscated rainbow-coloured items from fans ahead of Wales’s 1-1 draw with the USA.
A Brazillian flag was taken away after it was confused for a pride flag too (Picture: Twitter)
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World Cup fans, who had previously been told they were allowed to take rainbow-themed bucket hats and flags into the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, were shocked.
Welsh fans had previously been ordered by Qatari officials to remove the rainbow-themed items before entering the stadium for their opening game against the United States on Monday.
But the Football Association of Wales (FAW) said that FIFA had reassured them that Qatari officials would not stop their fans from wearing the hats, which are a symbol of support for members of the LGBTQ community.
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World Cup 2022: your FAQs answered
The reporter slammed Qatari authorities and said the message is still not getting through.
