FIFA has decided to ban England fans from entering stadiums in Qatar, which is hosting the World Cup, if they dress up like Christian crusaders.
England fans will be barred from entering stadiums in Qatar - hosting the FIFA World Cup - if they don crusader costumes, said FIFA.
A few England fans were seen wearing crusader costumes, such as chain-mail armour, plastic helmets and toy weapons, during Monday’s match against Iran in Qatar’s capital Doha - which prompted a protest on social media, demanding a ban on such costumes.
Notably, crusader costumes are banned in Muslim countries owing to historical reasons. In Muslim countries, it summons up a painful history of violent invasion by Christians seeking to capture Jerusalem and nearby areas under Islamic rule in the 11th to 13th centuries.
England fans have worn similar outfits previously while attending other sporting events. But when several people turned up in crusader costumes at England’s FIFA World Cup match against Iran, they were turned away by officials, videos shared on social media showed.
England fans will be barred from Friday’s match in Qatar against the United States and future World Cup games if they wear crusader replica costumes considered culturally insensitive in a Muslim country, FIFA was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
“These costumes in an Arab or Middle Eastern context can be perceived as being offensive, so that’s the reason for them not being permitted in stadiums,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
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