Stewards confiscated flags displaying the Cross of St. George from England fans at AT&T Stadium, where England faced Croatia. Supporters had attempted to drape the flags over FIFA advertising boards along the sideline.
FIFA regulations prohibit covering sponsorship and LED boards. Stewards threatened confiscation and relocated permitted flags to the four upper corners of the stadium, away from television sightlines.
Organizers justified the restrictions on safety grounds, stating that LED boards display emergency evacuation instructions alongside commercial content.
Fan Dan (28) from East London protested: "Given what we paid for tickets, it's just a circus. But what can you do? It's another case where football fans are treated like cattle." The incident reflects tension between FIFA's commercial control and fan expression during the tournament.
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