Two England fans were subjected to a "humiliating" strip search after turning up to England's first World Cup fixture in Qatar dressed as crusading knights.
The two fans had donned the costumes to attend the match in Qatar, but were repeatedly denied access to the stadium after attendants took issue with the outfits, allegedly asking: "Are you here to kill Muslims?".
The fans, one of whom had emigrated to Qatar to work in construction, were told to remove their costumes before being taken aside, the Daily Star reports.
The incident has come amid calls, including from England fans, to be "respectful" of the host nation after a number of European sides including England were told their players would face sporting sanctions if they wore the One Love armband to support the LGBTQ+ community.
However the England fans donned the costumes imitating armour worn by Christian armies, which one journalist and researcher compared to going into Germany dressed as Hitler.
The pair claim that they were subjected to a "humiliating" strip search after security staff took issue with the costumes, which the pair say were made in India and reference the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
England fans have previously donned the costumes at international games, representing England's patron saint St George, who was born in what is now Turkey.
FIFA officials warned fans against wearing the costumes to games in Qatar as they may be seen as disrespectful by the Gulf state.
One of the fans said: "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.
"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.
"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."
A FIFA spokesperson 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."
They added that FIFA was striving to "create a discrimination-free environment" and "promote diversity across the organisation".
Journalist and researcher Robert Carter tweeted in response to England fans donning crusader costumes, writing: "England fans need to understand, going to the Middle East dressed as crusaders is like going to Germany dressed as Hitler. Crusaders butchered Muslims."
