NATIONS COMPETING in the World Cup who claimed that they would wear the OneLove’ armband in support of LGBTQ+ people will now not do so due to threats of sanctions from FIFA.
Reports emerged this week that captains from the likes of England, Wales, Germany and Denmark were to wear the OneLove’ in support of LGBTQ+ rights.
Qatar have come under fire for their treatment of migrant workers and their stance in regards to homosexuality.
England captain Harry Kane will wear the One Love armband to show support for LGBTQ+ rights in this afternoon's game against Iran despite the risk of punishment. pic.twitter.com/KgeuBywKVA
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 21, 2022
In Qatar homosexuality is still illegal and anyone found participating in same-sex sexual activity can be punished with up to seven years in prison.
According to reports, Kane and the other captains were to receive yellow cards from the get-go if they wore the OneLove’ armband because of these rules.
England's captain Harry Kane, speaking in a press conference yesterday, said he would take the yellow to uphold the gesture:
"I feel we've made it clear as a team, as a staff and as an organisation that we want to wear the armband. I know the FA are talking to FIFA at the moment. I'm sure by game time tomorrow they'll have their decision. We've made it clear that we want to wear it."
Denmark's Christian Eriksen and Gareth Bale have also hinted that they will wear the gesture ahead of their games on Monday.
But according to FIFA's rules, 'Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images'.
Now according to a report in the Athletic the players will now not perform the gesture.
England's governing body the FA, the FAW (Wales) and other nations have now asked the players not go ahead with the gesture due to the sanctions that will come from FIFA.
A statement from the FA read:
“FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play.
“As national federations, we can’t put our players in a position where they could face sporting sanctions including bookings, so we have asked the captains not to attempt to wear the armbands in FIFA World Cup games.
“We were prepared to pay fines that would normally apply to breaches of kit regulations and had a strong commitment to wearing the armband. However we cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play.
“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented — we wrote to FIFA in September informing them of our wish to wear the One Love armband to actively support inclusion in football, and had no response.
“Our players and coaches are disappointed — they are strong supporters of inclusion and will show support in other ways.”
England plays Iran at 1pm.
🚨 BREAKING: England among nations backing down from wearing ‘OneLove’ armband for #FIFAWorldCup opener. #ENG would have taken fine but when clear sporting sanctions would follow, prioritised competition & performance @TheAthleticFC #ENGIRA #Qatar2022 #IRN https://t.co/TrfyDvqtL7
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) November 21, 2022
