A journalist reporting on the World Cup in Qatar claims local police harassed him outside a stadium after mistaking his Brazilian regional flag for an LGBTQ pride banner.
Victor Pereira said his phone was seized by authorities after he used it to film a man’s negative reaction to the colored flag in Pernambuco state, northeastern Brazil.
The flag represents a rainbow in the colors red, yellow and green, a red cross and a star.
He said a man in a traditional white dress mistook him for the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ community as he left Lusail Stadium after Saudi Arabia surprise 2-1 victory against Argentina tuesday.
Same-sex relationships are illegal in the Gulf state, but organizers in the host nation have repeatedly said “all are welcome” at the sporting event.
“This guy in a white robe grabbed the flag, threw it on the ground and started stomping on it. I took my phone to record a video but he grabbed it from my hand and said that ‘he would only give it back to me if I deleted the video,’ Mr Pereira said.
“Then an officer arrived and tried to intervene. He took the other guy’s phone and ordered me to delete the video.”
Mr Pereira said he obeyed and deleted the clip so he could retrieve his phone.
He uploaded his account of the incident to Twitter.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Qatar’s World Cup organizers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the Qatari government’s media office.
Pernambuco Governor Paulo Camara tweeted the incident shortly after.
He said: “Our solidarity with Pernambuco journalist Victor Pereira. Victor is covering the Qatar Cup and had the Pernambuco flag he was carrying seized by the authorities in that country.”
Elsewhere, a US journalist said he was briefly detained on Monday after he tried to enter a World Cup stadium in Qatar while wearing a rainbow shirt in support of the LGBTQ community. He also claimed his phone was seized.
And some Wales fans in Qatar said on Monday their rainbow hats had been confiscated, prompting Downing Street to say it was closely monitoring the treatment of British fans in the country.
Read more: What are the Qatari laws on homosexuality?
Some claimed they were told it was a ‘prohibited symbol’, despite FIFA saying rainbow-coloured flags and clothing were allowed in stadiums .
The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “Obviously that’s not the approach this government would take if we were to hold a tournament.
“LGBT rights are a fundamental part of the UK.
“We have raised our concerns about LGBT visitors with Qatari authorities at all levels ahead of the tournament and will obviously continue to monitor it carefully.”
