Footage has emerged of a fan being kicked out of Brisbane Stadium for displaying the national flag of Iran during Australia’s quarterfinal win over France.
The Matildas are into the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time after defeating France 7-6 on penalties in a thrilling shootout.
A capacity crowd was at fever pitch in Brisbane, going ballistic when Sam Kerr came on in the second half before the roof went off when Cortnee Vine slotted the matchwinning penalty.
But there was a sour moment when a neutral fan was seemingly booted from the stadium by two police officers for displaying an Iranian flag.
Journalist Mark Gottlieb tweeted vision of the man, who was wearing an Australian scarf, being escorted from his seat by police.
According to official FIFA regulations, fans are allowed to bring “small flags, banners and posters” as long as they are made of a nonflammable material.
But “items of a political, offensive, sexual, discriminatory or commercial nature are strictly prohibited and may result in expulsion from the stadium”.
The Matildas will take on England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Wednesday night after the European champions beat Colombia 2-1 in their quarterfinal.
England will go in as favourites but the whole of Australia will be hoping the Matildas can continue their fairytale run.
Sweden will face in the other semifinal on Tuesday.
Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was the hero for Australia, producing save after save in the penalty shootout — including twice from the same French player after she was ruled to have stepped off her line.
Sam Kerr came off the bench in the 55th minute and played more than an hour of game time accounting for extra time.
The Matildas skipper nailed her penalty in the shootout four years after missing in a crushing round of 16 loss to Norway.
With just four days before the semifinal, debate will resume over whether Kerr will move into the starting side or continue to come on as a substitute as she has against Denmark and France.
The Matildas had made the quarterfinals on three previous occasions (2007, 2011, 2019) and their best ever result comes in the first ever 32-team Women’s World Cup.