Pitch invader with rainbow flag halts Portugal v Uruguay in Qatar

An unknown person holding a rainbow flag invaded the pitch during the World Cup match between Portugal and Uruguay in Qatar on Monday.

The game had to be interrupted for a few minutes. Despite efforts from World Cup broadcasters to avoid showing the action, it was possible to briefly see someone running across the pitch with the flag, which is a symbol of the LGBT community.

Photos published on social media also showed that the front of the pitch invader shirt read “Save Ukraine” and the back read “Respect For Iranian Women.”

Same-sex relationships are illegal in Qatar, and the World Cup hosts have been widely criticized for its handling of the LGBTQ+ community, among other things.

Earlier in the tournament, a group of nations planned to wear a multi-coloured One Love captain armband in a sign for equality and diversity, but backed down after football governing body FIFA threatened financial and sporting sanctions.