Yahoo Sport 
‘Respect For Iranian Women’ protester invades pitch at World Cup match
The decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar has been controversial from the start, with many speaking out to condemn FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) for allowing the country - which has a zero tolerance policy for the LGBTQIA+ community - to host the tournament.
There were also multiple reports in the run-up to the event claiming that workers charged with building the stadium had been subjected to horrendous working conditions, with 400 to 500 migrant workers dying as a result.
Now, after multiple instances of people being denied entry to football matches in Qatar for wearing anything with a rainbow motif (including the former captain of the Welsh women's football team), a protester has made a statement by invading the pitch whilst holding a rainbow flag and wearing a shirt showing the words 'Respect For Iranian Women' on the back and 'Save Ukraine' on the front.
It happened during Monday's game between Portugal and Uruguay, and afterwards, Portugal's Rúben Neves expressed hopes that the protester would not be punished, "We know what has happened around this World Cup. It's a normal thing to happen. Of course, we are all with them as well. Iran as well, because I saw his shirt.
"I hope nothing happens to the boy because we understand his message and I think all the world understood it as well."
Speaking ahead of the tournament, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a letter [via the BBC] that political statements were not welcome on the pitch, "We know football does not live in a vacuum and we are equally aware that there are many challenges and difficulties of a political nature all around the world, but please do not allow football to be dragged into every ideological or political battle that exists."
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