England fans at tending the World Cup on Qatar have been warned that dressing up as Saint George is ‘offensive’ to muslims by anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out.
Qatari authorities have started banning England fans from wearing crusader costumes in stadiums.
The attire, complete with swords and crosses, are offensive due to crusader history of rape, slaughter and occupation of Arab lands.#Qatar #Eng #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/BoL6dnZEjz
— Robert Carter (@Bob_cart124) November 23, 2022
Footage circulating online appears to show two men dressed as the English patron saint having trouble entering a football stadium.
A spokesperson for KIO has said that the charity would “advise fans who are attending FIFA World Cup matches that certain attire, such as fancy-dress costumes representing knights or crusaders, may not be welcomed in Qatar and other Islamic countries.”
The statement continues that, “Foreign Office travel advice issued before the tournament expressed that fans should familiarise themselves with local customs, and we would encourage fans to take this approach.”
The Telegraph reports the head of supporter engagement at the Football Supporters Association, Ashley Brown, saying, “the supporters had likely been “naive” rather then intentionally offensive or Islamophobic.”
Adding, “I think it’s naivety rather than anything intentional. They’re dressing as St George, the patron saint, but perhaps they don’t really understand the implication of what they’re wearing,”
Dressing up as Saint George is a long standing tradition among English sports fans, but is apparently not immune to accusations of ‘wrong think’.
An England fan in Qatar speaks to TalkTV about the treatment of fans at the World Cup.
"What they don't realise in places like Qatar is the fans are the essence of the game. We are what makes football it's not the corporates."#WorldCup | #TalkTV pic.twitter.com/AQ2uLocGXZ
— Talk (@TalkTV) November 20, 2022
The German football team reportedly protested FIFA banning of their lgbt inclusive ‘one love’ armbands by covering their mouths before their playoff against Japan which they ultimately lost.
Incredible: German National Team cover their mouths in Protest, to make it clear to the World they were silenced by FIFA who prevented them from wearing OneLove Armband at World Cup. Footballers using their platform for the Force of Good 🇩🇪🙌 pic.twitter.com/c4S5OO080Q
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) November 23, 2022
CBS News reported Germany coach Hansi Flick saying, “It was a sign from the team, from us, that FIFA is muzzling us,” before his team lost the game 2-1.
Team captain Manuel Neuer said, “We may have our bands taken away from us, but we’ll never let our voices be taken from us,” Neuer said. “We stand for human rights. That’s what we wanted to show. We may have been silenced by FIFA regarding the captain’s armbands, but we always stand for our values.”