England captain Harry Kane has been seen showing off while wearing a $950,000 rainbow, diamond watch in Qatar.
The Tottenham superstar and his national team were widely slammed around the world this week when they backed down on their planned display of support for the LGBTQ+ community at the Qatar World Cup.
In the lead up to England’s tournament opener against Iran it was reported the team was planning on having Kane wear a rainbow coloured captain’s armband despite threats from FIFA.
In the end Kane and the other European countries all bowed to FIFA’s demands and instead wore bland armbands with the worlds “No Discrimination” written on them.
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The dispute between the European countries and football’s governing body threatened to get explosive and it has now been revealed that Denmark is planning talks with fellow Uefa member-countries over potentially quitting FIFA as a result of its gagging order at the World Cup.
Seven European teams had gone public with their intent to wear rainbow-coloured “One Love” armbands to promote inclusivity and LGBTQ+ rights to put pressure on the home country while same-sex relationships remain illegal in Qatar.
The Sun reports the seven captains from the European teams were warned by FIFA that they faced a yellow card as a “minimum” punishment for wearing the armbands.
Germany sent a defiant message to FIFA with an iconic team photo ahead of their shock World Cup defeat to Japan yesterday.
Their players lined up for the pre-match team photo and all covered their mouths with their right hand – an act to show they had been silenced by the tournament organisers.
Now it has emerged that England hero Kane, who was back training today after an injury scare ahead of Friday’s clash with USA, also made his own personal statement.
The 29-year-old led the squad from the team coach into the dressing-room at the Khalifa International Stadium before the 6-2 win over Iran wearing a $950,000 Rainbow Rolex.
Instagram account Insane Luxury Life shared a snap of the timepiece, which was previously worn by Stormzy at the Brit Awards in 2020, and the star wearing it.
And they captioned it with: “The captain of England @harrykane wears a rare @rolex Daytona ‘Rainbow’ 116595RBOW in 18k rose gold, one of the most sought after pieces on market.
“This masterpiece is set with 36 baguette-cut rainbow sapphires on bezel, 56 brilliant-cut diamonds on the case and 11 baguette-cut rainbow coloured sapphires as hour markers.
“The Daytona Rainbow was first released in 2012 in 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold, at the time they weren’t much appreciated by the market. #Rolex.”
They then shared that the retail price is $135,850, while the current market price is $950,000.
The sheer opulence of the piece has also caused a backlash against Kane for such a brazen show of wealth. It shows the genius protest may have actually been madness.
It comes amid news that Qatar has been ordered by FIFA to stop forcing fans to remove their rainbow hats when they enter stadiums.
Security guards ahead of Wales’ 1-1 draw with the USA cracked down on fans wearing pro-LGBTQ+ clothing at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Fans reported being forced to remove rainbow-coloured bucket hats, rainbow wristbands and even rainbow laces.
And one man even reported he was refused entry to the stadium because he was wearing a T-shirt sporting a rainbow.
LGBTQ+ rights have been at the centre of controversies around the World Cup – with same-sex relationships punishable by death in Qatar.
Welsh fan group The Rainbow Wall reported only women were targeted and forced to remove their rainbow clobber.
And this included former Wales international football star Laura McAllister.
