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England fan 'told to take down LGBT flag' inside Nizhny Novgorod stadium during Panama clash

Joe White, from Tooting, was asked to take down his flag inside Nizhny Novgorod stadium: PA
Joe White, from Tooting, was asked to take down his flag inside Nizhny Novgorod stadium: PA

An England fan has told of his "frustration" after being ordered to take down a rainbow LGBT flag inside a Russian football stadium ahead of the team’s 6-1 win over Panama.

Joe White, 25, said a steward removed the Three Lions Pride St George's Cross, which features a rainbow stripe, shortly before England's storming victory.

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He said the steward told them "those colours are not allowed" before they contacted Fifa and the Football Supporters' Federation, who both swung into action to overrule the decision.

The pride group have travelled to Russia to support England and raise awareness of LGBT issues.

England fans celebrate on the streets on Nizhny Novgorod (REUTERS)
England fans celebrate on the streets on Nizhny Novgorod (REUTERS)

He said the stewards had inspected their scarves before deciding to let them into the stadium at Nizhny Novgorod.

The flag was later captured on television cameras as the players celebrated a goal.

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Mr White, from Tooting, south London, said: "One of the supervisors has gone and taken it down and taken it away.

England supporters parade through Nizhny Novgorod (PA)
England supporters parade through Nizhny Novgorod (PA)

"They said 'oh no you're not allowed those colours in here' meaning the rainbow flag so obviously that's an issue.

"It was a touch and go situation but it got put back up in time for the game.

"I think for me I started getting really annoyed and angry because we had these reassurances.

"We've come over not just to support England, which is obviously a huge part of why we're here, we're here because we are England fans but also to show solidarity with LGBT Russians.

"To have that visibility and start that conversation that might not otherwise be had and so to be defined when there wasn't that issue.

"It was just frustrating more than anything else.

"It did start to tarnish it a little bit."

Mr White, who was abused in central Moscow by a passer-by who shouted "faggot" while he was being interviewed by the Press Association, said the reception had been more positive than negative.

He added many fans, including some Russians, had told him they had been inspired by their attempts to raise awareness.

Additional reporting by Press Association.