Two German soccer fans told CNN that they were asked by security officials at Qatar 2022 to remove the rainbow-colored items that they were wearing as they made their way to watch the World Cup match between France and Denmark on Saturday. After taking Bengt Kunkel and his friend to one side, a group of security guards eventually let them go on condition that they put the rainbow-colored items in their pockets. Once outside Stadium 974, Kunkel put the rainbow-colored armband and wristband back on and walked through security. He was stopped 4 times before reaching his seat.
Since the World Cup kicked off, FIFA has found itself at odds with seven European nations playing at Qatar 2022 over the threat of sanctions for any player wearing a “OneLove” armband during games. German Interior and Community Minister Nancy Faeser wore the “OneLove” armband, which features the outline of a heart striped in different colors, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino sitting close by during her country’s 2-1 defeat against Japan. Ahead of its game against Japan earlier this week, Germany’s team posed with their right hands in front of their mouths designed as a protest to FIFA’s decision to ban the “OneLove” armband that many European captains had been hoping to wear in Qatar.
