QATAR 2022

'You know it makes us angry and you do it' - Popular Qatari journalist reacts to LGBTQ pitch invader

David Ben 09:34 - 29 November 2022

A Qatari journalist triggers reactions on social media after slamming a World Cup pitch invader over rainbow flag and controversial T-shirt

Fans have reacted on social media after a Qatari journalist slammed a pitch invader who protested at the World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay with a rainbow flag.

A man staged a public protest against Qatar at the FIFA World Cup, by invading the pitch during Portugal’s win over Uruguay at Lusail Stadium on Monday, November 28, 2022.

The ticketholder, who is understood to be a serial pitch invader Marco Ferri, briefly forced the match to be halted as security gave chase.

The pitch invader dropped his rainbow flag above his head in support of the LGBT community before he was caught by security and Iranian referee Alireza Faghani, who is based in Australia, collected the flag and left it on the sideline.

He also wore a Superman T-shirt with the words ‘SAVE UKRAINE’ on the front and ‘RESPECT FOR IRANIAN WOMAN’ on the back.

The pitch invader carried a rainbow flag over the fence at the World Cup

Following the eventual conclusion of the match, a popular Qatari journalist identified as Mohammed Al Kaabi took to his Twitter page with over 417,000 followers to post a message that read: ''You come to our country and you know what makes us angry and you do it?"

Mohammed Al Kaabi's tweet

This is due to the fact that Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, with FIFA initially blocking fans from wearing rainbow attire inside stadiums before overturning the decision during the first week of the tournament.

Social Media Reactions

Referee Alireza Faghani removes the pitch invader’s rainbow flag

Following Mohammed Al Kaabi's tweet on Monday, fans have taken to social media to react.

Here are some of the top reactions below:

WHY BRIBE PEOPLE TO HOST AN EVENT THAT YOU KNOW WILL BRING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE WITH VERY DIVERSE CULTURES AND IDENTITIES IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE OFFENDED BY SO MUCH OF THAT DIVERSITY
— Peanut 🌻 (@Third_Nut) November 29, 2022

Again, no one wanted to come to your Sharia law country. You bribed your way through hosting the world cup, and people had no choice.
— Navid Mohebbi نوید محبی (@navidmohebbi) November 28, 2022

I am sorry but NO, we don’t “come” to your country, YOUR country asked to host the entire world, act accordingly. Period. 🏳️‍🌈
— M. Casado (@Inflacionad0) November 28, 2022

why are you hosting a world cup if you get angry at rainbows?
— no⁴⁴ 🏳️‍🌈 (@worldchamp44) November 28, 2022

obviously you are out of your depth hosting an international event such as this.
Money doesn’t buy awareness or the right to host something this important.
— Saman Arbabi (@SamanArbabi) November 29, 2022

They have no respect at all. Sorry for their arrogance
— 🇻🇦♱ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (@AngloCatholica) November 28, 2022

You try to act as an occidental country yet still can't respect some basic human rights?
— Ronnie's PSG (@PSG_70) November 28, 2022

The World Cup is not about your country. Is a worldwide event with shared values and rights, and you had pretensions to be a host of it. if you can’t manage your anger about demonstrations and human right expressions, you shouldn’t be a host.
— Rulo de viaje (@Dan_Lande) November 29, 2022

If people were so against Qatar and their views on certain things

They wouldn’t go

Facts are the people that are running around with rainbow hats etc are looking for attention. Respect a countries rules 👍🏼👍🏼
— K (@CFCWARREN) November 28, 2022

How much did Qatar bribe FIFA to host the World Cup? How many people died working to build the stadiums?

But you’re angry?
— Baz (@B4ZZ_B0W5K1) November 29, 2022

What makes me angry is in fact that football world had to move to your country for a month

Nobody wanted to be there maybe you should’ve thought about that before bribing all those executives?
— Der Kaiser™️ (@DerKaiserBM) November 29, 2022