KEIR RADNEDGE in DOHA: European nations who had wanted their captains to wear the OneLove armband at the World Cup have backed down in Qatar after being threatened by FIFA with yellow cards for a breach of kit regulations.

Netherlands launched the OneLove campaign before Euro 2020 as a message against discrimination and the LGBTQ+ community in particular. Same-sex relationships and the promotion of same-sex relationships are criminalised in Qatar.

Gianni Infantino, president of the world governing body, accused the west in general of “hypocrisy” in its reporting about Qatar’s human rights record. Now he and his organisation can be similarly accused every time it preaches its commitment to inclusion.

Infantino said on Saturday that he “feels gay.” Obviously not very deeply.

Captains who had intended to wear the armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion including Germany’s Manuel Neuer, England’s Harry Kane and Wales’ Gareth Bale.

The seven concerned FAs – Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and Wales – had notified FIFA in September about their intention but received no response until yesterday when the world body rushed forward its own “No Discrimination” armband campaign.

A joint statement from the seven said they could not put their players “in a position where they could face sporting sanctions”.

The statement added: “We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision which we believe is unprecedented. FIFA has been very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play.

“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.”

In an additional statement, the Football Association of Wales said: “We’re frustrated. We’re disappointed. But we remain with the belief that football is for everyone and stand with our LGBTQ+ members of the Welsh football family.”

Kick It Out ‘disappointed’

The decision was condemned by anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out.

It said: “We are disappointed that FIFA is intent on imposing sanctions on European nations who choose to wear the OneLove armband, preventing teams from sending a strong statement to the world that diversity and inclusion are an integral part of the game.

“This decision continues to highlight FIFA’s failure to address concerns of both human rights groups and the LGBTQ+ community in the build-up to this tournament.

“Players and fans should not have had to bear the burden of FIFA’s mistakes and we will continue to support Gareth Southgate, and his team, as they look to explore other ways to support inclusion in football.”

England’s Football Supporters’ Association said it felt “betrayed” by FIFA.

A statement said: “Today we feel contempt for an organisation that has shown its true values by giving the yellow card to players and the red card to tolerance. Never again should a World Cup be handed out solely on the basis of money and infrastructure.

“No country which falls short on LGBT+ rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights or any other universal human right should be given the honour of hosting a World Cup. It’s astonishing that, on the morning of England’s World Cup opener, FIFA are censoring players and the nine national FAs who wish to share a positive message.”

############