• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
England fans wearing £3,000 crusader costumes claim they were forced to strip naked

Home> Sport

Published 20:41 25 Nov 2022 GMT

England fans wearing £3,000 crusader costumes claim they were forced to strip naked

The two England fans claim they were turned away for wearing the 'offensive' costume

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

England fans wearing £3,000 crusader costumes claim they were forced to strip naked for causing 'offence'.

The three lions supporters claim they were refused entry for the opening World Cup game against Iran.

"Are you here to kill Muslims," the two ex-pats were allegedly asked.

Advert

Their helmets, rubber swords and outfits were confiscated and the pair were apparently left in their t-shirts and shorts.

Attempting to make the second half, the two fans were allegedly asked to take their clothes off before entry.

Twitter / @Bob_cart124

One of the men involved - who prefers to not be named - is a 57-year-old engineer.

He explained: "They were hand made in India.

Advert

"They cost £3,000 each. We thought it would be a laugh to dress up for the game in keeping with the tradition we’ve seen at virtually every previous World Cup.

"But the staff at the security checkpoints first denied us entry because of our helmets then said the shields and rubber swords were a problem, then the tunics were offensive.

"We ended up going back and forth five or six times to various checkpoints all the time complying with their requests.

"This went on for two-and-a-half hours and led to us missing the first half so we decided to ditch all the gear as we’d paid more than £180 for our tickets."

What followed next was an alleged strip search.

Advert

Twitter / @Bob_cart124

His friend, a 56-year-old body builder claims to have worked on the stadiums built in the Qatar World Cup.

"We came in fancy dress like many England fans have in the past but 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. What are you talking about?' We were cross about missing the first half by the time we tried to enter wearing ordinary clothes but were both shocked when they ordered a strip search. Three security staff in a very small room stood around us pointing and sneering. It was awful."

The builder added: "If I complained to the police I'd lose my job and get deported immediately - that's the reality of life here. Everything has been scrubbed clean and whitewashed for the World Cup but everyone here lives in a climate of fear."

Advert

A FIFA spokesman 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."

LADbible have contacted FIFA for additional comment.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter / @Bob_cart124 / YAY Media AS / Alamy

Topics: Football, Sport, World Cup

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 days ago
13 days ago
14 days ago
  • 8 days ago

    Insane simulation shows speed comparison between Usain Bolt and the average human

    Good luck catching him

    News
  • 8 days ago

    Former Olympic Swimmer James Magnussen going for World Record at Enhanced Games on steroids 'feels 18 again'

    World Aquatics labelled the Enhanced Games a 'circus', but James Magnussen thinks it's an 'awesome opportunity'

    News
  • 13 days ago

    Michael Schumacher’s ex-F1 boss gives tragic insight into his health following ski accident

    Flavio Briatore remembers Schumacher a specific way

    News
  • 14 days ago

    Olivia Dunne explains why she unexpectedly dropped the splits in viral catwalk moment

    Gymnast Olivia Dunne did the splits during the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway show on Saturday (31 May)

    News
  • Favourite to become next England manager announced as Gareth Southgate leaves role
  • What will happen to England if Serbia pull out of Euro 2024
  • UEFA responds as England fans feared Jude Bellingham may be banned for quarter-final
  • Detectives share fear about what they think happened to French toddler's body before his remains were found