World Cup fan kicked out of Matildas quarter-finals: 'Gonna get messy'

The Matildas made Australian history on Saturday, but something else also caught fans' attention.

Brianne Tolj
·Associate News Editor
Updated ·2-min read

Footage of a fan being booted from Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium as the Matildas made Australian sporting history has emerged online.

The clip taken during the Women's World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday shows a man in a green and gold Aussie scarf arguing with two police officers in front of the packed crowd. The officers then place his arms behind his back and escort him from his seat as he continues to appear to yell.

Police removing the World Cup fan from his seat.
The World Cup fan was reportedly kicked out for waving an Iranian flag. Source: Twitter/@Mark Gottlieb

“Tonight at Suncorp Stadium a fan was kicked out for displaying an Iranian flag during the #fifawwc quarter-final between France and Australia. No idea why,” journalist Mark Gottlieb, who filmed the incident, posted on Twitter.

Other fans watching on can be heard telling the officers to “leave him alone” as they march the man up the stairs.

A second video of what Mr Gottlieb labelled the “lead up” shows the man gesturing emphatically while arguing with a stadium security guard. “It’s gonna get messy,” a witness says in the background.

According to FIFA regulations posted on the stadium’s website, small banners and flags are permissible if they are not made from flammable material. “Items of a political, offensive, sexual, discriminatory or commercial nature are strictly prohibited and may result in expulsion from the stadium,” the rules state.

Yahoo News Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment.

The man arguing with a stadium security guard in front of the packed crowd.
The man argued with a stadium security guard before being booted. Source: Twitter/@Mark Gottlieb

Matildas to go head-to-head with England

The Matildas have reached the semi-finals of the Women's World Cup for the first time after edging out France 7-6 on penalties in a gripping encounter. In an epic, record-setting shootout, after scores were locked at 0-0 after extra-time, heroic goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made three saves in a player-of-the-match display.

It left Cortnee Vine to coolly convert the winning spot-kick to seal the quarter-final victory in front of 49,461 screaming fans. The Matildas will play England, who defeated Colombia 2-1, in Wednesday's semi-final at Stadium Australia in Sydney, for a place in the decider.

The question is whether superstar Sam Kerr will start. Neither Kerr nor coach Tony Gustavsson answered that burning query after the captain played 65 minutes as a substitute and converted her spot-kick in the penalty shootout that secured quarter-final victory.

With AAP

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