‘Crusader’ fans in strip-search rage
TWO England fans were strip-searched by stadium staff after dressing as crusaders for the team’s World Cup opener.
The expat pair were turned away five times for wearing the “offensive” fancy dress, inspired by Monty Python.
After being forced to miss the first half of Monday’s 6-2 win over Iran, they were ordered to strip when they tried to get back into the Khalifa International Stadium in shorts and shirts.
The men do not want to be named for fear of reprisals. Both have worked on Qatar World Cup projects for 10 years.
One of them, a 56-year-old builder, said yesterday: “I was horrified by their conduct. These people did not see the funny side at all, they were very nasty.
“At one point one of them tugged at my chainmail and asked me, ‘Have you come here to kill Muslims?’ I told him, ‘I’ve come here to have fun and watch the football, mate’. We were both shocked when they ordered a strip search.”
His friend, an engineer, 57, claimed the guards, who were not Qatari, were mocking his tattoos to “demean him”.
FIFA said: “Crusader costumes in the Arab context can be offensive against Muslims. That is why anti-discrimination colleagues asked fans to wear things inside out or change dress.”