England and Wales make mark on World Cup on day of off-pitch drama
It was a day that football fans back home had been dreaming of.
Wales, in their first World Cup for 64 years; England, getting their campaign under way with genuine hope of finally ending 56 years of hurt.
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And both can be satisfied with their opening salvos – Gareth Southgate’s men thrashing Iran to top the group, followed by Wales fighting back from behind to earn a point against the USA.
But this World Cup is anything but normal. There has been more drama off the pitch than on it so far, and it’s not much more than 24 hours old.
The decision to ban captains from wearing the OneLove armband – a gesture of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community – came late in the day, only three hours before England kicked off.
The frustration of the English and Welsh managers was clear, but in the end, they felt they were left with no choice.
App problems leave fans stuck outside
Meanwhile, outside the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, thousands of English and Iranian fans were still queuing to get in just 15 minutes before their game kicked off.
The World Cup app had crashed, and with it their digital tickets vanished.
Some were left to watch the match on their phones while sat outside on the concourse.
Immensely brave Iranian protest
And while the OneLove armbands might have been replaced with FIFA-sanctioned ones, that did not keep the politics out of the football.
England’s players took the knee as they had promised to do so, as they did throughout Euro 2020, while the Iranian team refused to sing the national anthem.
It was an immensely brave move, one taken as a team in support of the protests back home. They had told us last week that they had discussed together what to do, at 4pm on Monday afternoon we found out.
They are well-known figures in Iran, a football-mad country just across the Gulf from Qatar. Their stand didn’t go unnoticed in the stadium, and it might not go unpunished when they return.
Such a heavy weight on such young shoulders.
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Wales fans stopped from entering stadium
Hours later, more controversy.
Wales fans wearing rainbow-coloured clothes were prevented from entering the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Among them was former Wales national football captain Laura McAllister, who wearing a rainbow bucket hat.
Now a professor at Cardiff University, McAllister wrote on Twitter: “So, despite fine words from FIFA World Cup before event, Cymru rainbow bucket hats confiscated at stadium, mine included.
“I had a conversation about this with stewards – we have video evidence. This World Cup 2022 just gets better but we will continue stand up for our values.”
FIFA has apologised to one, but has not yet explained why they were denied entry.
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On the pitch, it could not have gone better for England. Gareth Southgate will be frustrated by the two goals his team conceded, but to put six past your first opponents is a dream start.
After a lacklustre first half, Wales fans will take the draw. A late Gareth Bale penalty gave them hope, and it is still all to play for in Group A.
The two home nations will meet in the final group match next Tuesday – a fixture that already whets the appetite.
Tuesday sees Lionel Messi’s Argentina kick things off against Saudi Arabia, while holders France will close the day by taking on Australia.
